BX  7260    .K6  A3  1859 
Knill,  Richard,  1787-1857. 
The  life  of  the  Rev.  Richar 
Knill,  of  St.  Petersburg 


I 


LIFE  OF 

EEY.  RICHARD  KNILL. 


"  The  hiographer  has  performed  his  office  with  judgment 
and  fidelity,  and  has  given  us  a  condensed  account  of  one 
of  the  most  useful  ministers  of  his  age.    He  has  left  him 

to  speak  for  himself  and  teU  his  own  story  Such  a 

man's  life  should  he  a  study.  .  .  .  I  am  not  without  hope 
that  this  volume  has  its  mission  to  stir  us  up  to  a  spirit 
like  his  own.'^  

"  The  man  who  writes  one  good,  popular,  useful  re- 
ligious tract  has  done  a  work  worth  living  for,  though  he 
did  nothing  else.  There  is  a  time  coming  when  Hie  author 
of  the  "  Swearer's  Prayer''  (Mr.  KniK)  will  have  more  joy 
in  his  simple  leaflet  than  Milton  in  the  production  of 
Paradise  Lost." — Eev.  J.  A.  James'  Eevietv. 


"7  think  it  prohahle  that  with  these  few  notes  on  dear 
Knill's  life  and  labours,  I  shall  lay  down  my  pen,  which 
has  written  much." — Rev.  J.  A.  James  to  the  Editor  on 
tlie  day  before  his  death. 


THE  LIFE 


OF  THE 


REV.  RICHARD  KNILL, 

OF  ST.  PETERSBURG: 


BEIXG 

SELECTIONS  FROM  HIS  REMINISCENCES,  JOURNALS, 
AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


BY  THE  REV.  CHARLES  M.  BHIRELL, 

OF  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  LIVERPOOL. 

WITH  A  REVIEW  OF  HIS  CHARACTER,  BY  THE  LATE 
REV.  JOHN  ANGELL  JAMES. 


PRINTED  BY  THE 
AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY. 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


PREFACE. 


The  personal  reminiscences  which  form  the 
basis  of  this  narrative  were  penned  during 
some  periods  of  silence  appointed  to  the  vener- 
able writer  towards  the  close  of  his  life.  The 
hope,  however,  which  was  at  first  entertained, 
of  presenting  them  to  the  reader  as  an  un- 
touched composition,  could  not  be  realized,  as 
they  were  found,  on  close  examination,  to  be 
marked  by  chronological  inaccuracies,  and  the 
omission  of  some  interesting  passages  of  his 
history.  The  Editor,  although  he  had  the 
happiness  of  witnessing  Mr.  Knill's  manner  of 
life  in  the  foreign  capital  which  enjoyed  so 
large  a  share  of  his  labours,  as  well  as  the 
privilege  of  frequent  communication  with  him 
during  his  residence  in  the  English  city  in 
which  his  useful  career  closed,  did  not  judge 
himself  competent  to  complete  the  story  ;  but 
a  large  supply  of  letters  and  several  volumes 
of  journals  having  promised  to  supply  the 

1*  (V) 


vi 


PREFACE. 


deficiencies  of  the  original  sketch,  he  attempted 
to  unite  all  the  documents  in  a  continuous 
narration,  which  should  retain,  as  much  as 
possible,  the  character  of  an  autobiography. 

At  a  period  when  there  are  signs  of  an  in- 
creased desire  on  the  part  of  Christians  to 
seize  the  opportunities  of  usefulness  which 
occur  in  common  life,  the  example  of  one,  who, 
though  occupying  a  public  position,  was  dis- 
tinguished for  the  dcYOutness,  vigilance,  and 
success  with  which  he  applied  the  interviews 
of  the  home  and  the  wayside  to  the  loftiest 
topics,  will  not,  it  is  hoped,  be  unseasonable, 
nor,  by  the  Divine  blessing,  without  fruit. 

The  fervent  and  discriminating  application 
of  the  moral  lessons  of  the  book  made  in  the 
concluding  pages  by  an  author  who  has  laid 
this  generation  under  so  great  obligations — 
whose  words  prompted  the  earliest  serious 
thoughts,  and  guide  the  mature  labours  of  so 
many  amongst  us — will,  it  is  believed,  be  ac- 
cepted by  the  reader,  as  it  has  been  by  the 
Editor,  with  sincere  gratitude." 

Edge  Hill,  Liverpool, 
1st  October,  1859. 

See  Postscript,  page  355. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
EABLY  DAYS— A.D.  1792-1812  ;  JET.  5-25. 

Parentage — ^Escape — ^His  Mother's  Prayers — Enlistment — Convictions- 
Residence  in  Bideford — Rev.  S.  Rooker — Christian  Profession — Mis 
sionary  Aspirations — Perils — ^North  Devon  Militia — Touching  Re- 
cognition—New  Work,   Pages  11-31 


CHAPTER  II. 
MISSIONARY  CONSECRATION— A.D.  1812-1814 ;  m.  25-27. 

The  "Western  Academy — ^Review  of  life — ^Useful  Conversation — A  Stu- 
dent's Sermon — Rev.  Dr.  Waugh — Solemn  Purpose — His  Mother's 
Struggle — Missionary  Fire — ^Decision — ^Faith — Accepted  by  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  Pages  33-60 


CHAPTER  lU. 
PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR-A.D.  1814-1815  ;  MF.  27,  28. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bogue— Gosport  Studies— A  Stranger— Street  Preaching— 
A  Generous  Sailor— Indian  Destination — Ordination  at  liCeds — Good 


(vii) 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


Fruits — Christian  Love — Conversion  and  Unexpected  Recognitioi^ 
Family  Reform  and  another  Recognition — Farewells — His  Mother's 
Wedding  Ring— Embarkation,  Pages  51-81 

CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  FIRST  CAJIPAIGN— A.D.  1816-1820  ;  29-33 

Missionaries  for  the  East — The  Captain — ^The  Voyage — Sea  Services — 
Cape  of  Good  Hope— Madras— Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loveless— A  Young 
OflQcer — ^First  Victory — ^Jlilitary  Officers — A  Civilian  Converted— "A 
Religious  Horse" — Chastening — ^The  Sky  Beclouded — Dr.  Judson — 
Tour  in  South  India — An  Elephant  Enlisted — Ceylon — Voyage  Home 
—St.  Helena— England  again,  Pages  83-121 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAI^A.D.  1820-1823;  MT.  33-36. 

Religious  State  of  Russia— Voyage  to  St.  Petersburg— Winter  at  Sea— 
The  Congregation — ^Time  of  Refreshing — ^Walter  Venning — School 
for  Poor  Foreigners— Sickness — Marriage — Correspondence  with 
Missionaries — Pastoral  Visits — Russian  Bible  Society— The  Emperor 
—Education— Fellow-Labourers,     ....   Pages  123-148 

CHAPTER  VI. 

STORMS— A.D.  1824,  1825  ;  JET.  37,  38. 

Position  of  St.  Petersburg— Inundation— Loss  of  Life— Russian  Benevo- 
lence— Domestic  Anxiety — Bereavement — Useful  Sermon — Cautions 
to  aToung  Christian— Bible  Society  Imperilled— Death  of  the  Em- 
peror— Civil  Confusion — Attempted  Revolution— Extinction  of  Rus- 
sian Bible  Society,  Pages  149-171 

CHAPTER  VII. 

GLEAMS— A.D.  1826;  MT.  39. 

ffis  Mother's  and  Father's  Death— Schools— The  Watchmaker's  Trophy 
— ^The  Russian  Tailor ;  his  Scepticism,  Love  and  Zeal — Retro- 
Bpect,  Pages  173-190 


CONTENTS. 


ix 


CHAPTEK  VIIL 
BLUE  SKIES— A.D.  1828,  1829  ;         41,  4a. 

Departure  of  Fellow-Labourers— Baltic  Islanders— Finnisli  Bibles— The 
Milkmaid— Bibles  Taking  Wing— Faith  Tested— Good  Fruits— New 
Year's  Prayer — Release  of  Russian  Testaments — Large  Diffusion  of 
Scriptures — Caution — Severity  of  the  Government — Summary  of 
Work,  Pages  191-215 


CHAPTEK  IX. 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE— A.D.  1830-1832;  JETT.  43-45. 

Departure  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Venning— New  House  Consecrated— Alarm- 
ing News  of  Cholera — ^The  Princess  Metschersky — ^The  Princess' 
Translations — ^Unexpected  Liberty — Hannah  More — Christian  Litera- 
ture— A  Prisoner  Freed — Bideford  Letters— North  Devon  Sunday- 
Schools — ^Kindness  of  the  Empress — Summer  Retreat — ^Peace  dur- 
ing Peril— History  of  Trials— Tracts— English  Sailors— A  Gloomy 
Winter— Return  to  England,  Pages  217-292 


CHAPTER  X. 
WIDENING  HORIZON— A.D.  1834-1847 ;  47-60. 

Missionary  Work  in  England— Dr.  Urwick's  Sketch— Irish  Tours— Spirit 
of  Prayer — Home  Revisited — Leeds — Mr.  Reed's  Account — Fruits 
of  Conversations — Mr.  Spurgeon — Wotton-under-Edge — ^Time  of  Re- 
freshing— Rural  Evangelists — Removal  to  Chester,    Pages  259-292 


CHAPTER  XI. 

SUNSET— A.D.  1848-1857  ;  JET.  61-70. 

Chester— Preparation  of  the  Church— Domestic  Trials— Sketch  of  his 
Son  Samuel— Death  of  his  Son  and  Niece— Fresh  Zeal— Colloquies- 
Prisoners — Liberality — Old  Indian  Friends— New  Measures — The 
Theatre— Striking  Assembly— Sinners  Arrested— Last  Mission-Tour 


z 


CONTENTS. 


— Sudden  Illness — The  Peace  of  God — Oosing  Calls  and  Letters- 
Home — Decline— Praise — Departing — Glory— Funeral— Personal  Ap- 
pearance,   Pages  295-329 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

Review  of  Mr.  Knill's  Life  and  Character  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  James, 

Pages  338-354 


POSTSCRIPT, 


Page  355 


CHAPTER  I. 

^Sarlg  gap. 


"  More  servants  wait  on  man 
Than  he  '11  take  notice  of :   in  every  path 
He  treads  down  that  which  doth  befriend  him." 

Herbert. 


(11) 


EAELY  DAYS. 

If  the  reader,  in  the  course  of  a  summer  ex- 
cursion, have  sailed  along  the  fine  southern 
shore  of  the  Bristol  Channel,  and,  passing  the 
rocks  of  Lynton  and  Ilfracombe,  have  turned 
into  the  Bay  of  Bideford  to  meet  the  tide  of 
the  "  two  notable  rivers  "  which,  in  the  words 
of  Risdon,  the  antiquary,  "  there,  hand  in  hand, 
with  mutual  affection,  slip  into  the  sea,"  he 
must  have  noticed  two  plains  of  considerable 
extent,  stretching  from  the  sea-line  to  the  foot 
of  the  wooded  hills.  The  one  on  the  right 
hand,  being  guarded  by  the  singular  ocean- 
built  breakwater,  known  as  the  "  Pebble- 
Ridge,"  presents  a  noble  sheet  of  pasturage  for 
the  flocks  of  the  neighbouring  farms ;  while 
the  one  on  the  left  hand,  though  not  so  ver- 
dant, covers  the  forest  of  a  former  time,  in 
which,  according  to  the  firm  testimony  of  tra- 
dition, a  hardy  preacher  of  the  fourth  century 
2  (13) 


14 


EARLY  DAYS. 


proclaimed  the  gospel.  The  determined  zeal 
and  fruitful  toils  of  this  primitive  evangelist 
have  imprinted  his  name  on  the  parish  church 
of  St.  Braunock's,  as  well  as  on  the  village  or 
township  of  Braunton,  which  lies  embosomed 
in  orchards  in  a  picturesque  adjacent  valley. 

In  the  modern  community  of  this  place,  the 
father  of  the  missionary  whose  life  is  deline- 
ated in  the  folio u'ing  pages  held  a  somewhat 
prominent  position.  He  inherited  from  his 
ancestors,  who  had  been  known  for  many 
generations  in  the  parish,  a  capacity  for  nearly 
all  kinds  of  business.  His  original  trade  was 
that  of  a  carpenter,  but,  by  the  help  of  a  small 
patrimony,  he  gradually  relinquished  that  oc- 
cupation for  pursuits  more  agreeable  to  his  dis- 
cursive genius.  While  he  would  occasionally 
plan  and  work  at  the  construction  of  a  house, 
he  would  be  found  equally  at  home  valuing  the 
timber  of  an  estate,  selling  a  farming  stock, 
making  the  draught  of  a  lease,  or  drawing  up 
the  will  and  testament  of  a  dying  neighbour. 
These  useful  services,  united  with  a  tall  person, 
a  benevolent  countenance,  and  a  goodly  wig, 
procured  for  him  the  familiar  but  respectful 


EARLY  DAYS. 


15 


title  of  "  The  Counsellor.''  He  married  Mary- 
Tucker,  a  woman  of  superior  education  and 
excellent  judgment,  the  daughter  of  a  substan- 
tial neighbouring  farmer,  distinguished  for 
kindness  to  the  poor  and  general  hospitality. 

Richard,  named  after  his  father,  the  youn- 
gest of  their  four  children,  was  born  at  Braun- 
ton,  on  the  14th  April,  1787.  The  only  inci- 
dent of  liis  childhood  which  has  come  down  to 
us  was  one  which  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  On 
his  way  to  school,  the  boy  had  to  cross  a  stream 
spanned  by  a  bridge  of  two  flat  stones.  On 
attempting  one  day  to  ascertain  how  far  he 
could  push  a  stick  under  this  structure,  he 
overbalanced  himself  and  fell  in.  The  splash 
reached  the  ear  of  a  poor  widow,  carding  wool 
by  her  cottage  door.  On  looking  up,  she  spied 
a  child's  hat  on  the  surface  of  the  stream,  and^ 
darting  to  the  spot,  drew  the  little  owner,  by 
his  flaxen  locks,  from  under  the  bridge.  Molly 
Robins  was  never  forgotten  by  Mr.  Knill. 

She  could  not  read,"  he  would  say  character- 
istically, "  but  she  saved  my  life :  feeble 
powers,  if  well  employed,  will  do  wonders." 
Braunton  owed  little  to  its  reliQ:ious  instruc- 


16 


EARLY  DAYS. 


tors.  Its  inhabitants  generally  lived  in  moral 
darkness,  though,  in  addition  to  the  parish 
church,  it  had  had  a  community  of  Noncon- 
formists from  the  earliest  period  possible  after 
the  Act  of  Uniformity  in  1662.  The  parents 
of  Richard  Knill  resembled  their  neighbours, 
and  Ts^ere  not  prepared,  at  the  time  when  he 
was  committed  to  their  charge,  to  direct  him 
in  the  path  of  life. 

"  But,"  says  he,  in  the  reminiscences,  which 
shall  now  be  largely  quoted,  "  God  remem- 
bered them  in  their  low  estate.  A  young 
man,  named  Joseph  Evans,  the  son  of  a  farmer, 
who  had  been  for  some  years  in  Barnstaple, 
came  home  and  opened  a  shop.  He  gave  no- 
tice to  a  few  of  his  friends  that  he  should  have 
a  religious  service  at  his  house  on  Sunday 
evenings.  It  was  much  ridiculed  by  the  people 
generally,  but  my  beloved  mother,  who  had 
known  Mr.  Evans  from  a  child,  attended  his 
meeting.  There  the  Holy  Ghost  applied  the 
word  with  such  power  to  her  soul  that  she 
could  not  stay  away.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
became  very  precious.  She  rejoiced  with  joy 
unspeakable.    My  father  was  highly  displeased 


EARLY  DAYS. 


17 


at  this  ;  and  I  never  recollect  his  speaking  un- 
kindly to  my  mother,  except  about  this  change 
in  her  religion.  But  she  sought  comfort  in 
prayer  ;  and  would  often  take  me  with  her  into 
her  chamber,  and  say,  '  Kneel  down  with  me, 
my  dear,  and  I  will  pray  with  you;  your 
father  and  your  brothers  will  not  join  me.'  I 
wondered  why  she  wept  so,  and  where  she  got 
such  remarkable  prayers  for  my  father  and  the 
family  ;  but  I  understand  it  now,  and  I  have 
good  reason  to  believe  that  her  prayers  for 
them  have  been  answered,  and  that  she  has  met 
them  all  in  heaven,  except  myself,  and  I  trust, 
through  rich,  distinguishing  grace,  she  will 
meet  me  there  also.  Blessed  be  God  for  a 
praying  mother." 

"  In  my  thirteenth  year,"  he  continues,  "  I 
was  apprenticed  to  business,  and  in  my  seven- 
teenth year  finished  my  apprenticeship,  and 
went  abroad  into  the  wide  world  to  make  my 
fortune.  I  proceeded  to  Ilfracombe,  and  Barn- 
staple, and  Bristol,  for  improvement,  and  so 
far  I  succeeded  ;  but  I  cannot  look  back  to 
these  early  travels  without  a  pang.  '  Evil 
communications  corrupt  good  manners.'  In 
2 


18 


EARLY  DAYS. 


the  midst  of  wicked  old  men,  and  wicked 
j^oung  men,  I  forgot  the  prayers  of  my  pious 
mother,  and  became  fond  of  singing  foolisli 
songs,  and  breaking  the  Sabbath,  thus  stifling 
the  voice  of  conscience,  and  fighting  against 
God  ;  and  all  this  before  I  was  twenty.  My 
fondness  for  music  was  a  great  snare  to  me. 
The  devil  often  took  advantage  of  it  to  lead 
me  into  company.  At  last  I  began  to  fancy 
that  if  I  enlisted  into  the  militia  I  should  soon 
get  into  the  band,  and  then  it  would  be  music 
and  songs  all  the  year  round.  Accordingly,  I 
enlisted.  This  nearly  broke  my  mother's 
heart.  '  Now,'  said  she,  '  body  and  soul  are 
lost;  oh!  what  can  be  done?'  Mr.  Evans' 
the  dear  friend  who  led  my  mother  to  Jesus, 
called  on  my  parents  to  sympathise  with  them, 
and  offered  to  try  and  procure  my  discharge. 
Their  hearts  were  full  of  joy  at  his  offer.  Mr. 
Evans  immediately  waited  on  Colonel  Bevis, 
an  intimate  friend  of  Earl  Fortescue,  the  Lord- 
Lieutenant  of  the  country.  He  told  the  colonel 
the  story,  described  the  feelings  of  my  parents, 
and  offered  any  money  that  might  be  needful. 
*  I  will  do  it,'  said  the  colonel  ;  '  but  you  must 


EARL\r  DAYS.  19 

get  a  substitute,  and  keep  Knill  out  of  the  way 
until  the  matter  is  settled.'  It  was  a  mighty 
struggle,^  but  it  succeeded  ;  and  it  is  affecting 
for  me  to  know,  that  the  young  man  who  be- 
came my  substitute  soon  volunteered  into  '  the 
regulars,'  and  was  killed  in  the  heat  of  battle  ; 
perhaps,  as  my  mother  said  about  me,  '  body 
and  soul  were  lost.^ 

"  During  the  proceedings  with  the  colonel,  I 
was  shut  up.  Mr.  Evans  gave  me  a  room,  and 
I  came  down  night  and  morning  at  family 
prayer.  This  was  a  new  and  strange  scene  to 
me.  I  had  never  been  present  at  a  family 
prayer  in  my  life.  The  first  night  that  I  was 
in  this  good  man's  house,  about  nine  o'clock 
lie  rang  the  bell,  and  his  shopmen  and  servants 
all  came  in  to  the  parlour  and  sat  down.  I 
looked  with  surprise,  and  wondered  what  was 
coming  next.  When  all  were  seated,  he  opened 

*  The  miglity  struggle  is  said,  by  an  early  companion  of 
Mr.  Knill,  to  have  arisen  in  part  from  the  dissatisfaction  of 
the  major  with  the  substitute  accepted  by  the  colonel. 
Knill,  being  upwards  of  six  feet  high,  had  been  placed 
among  the  grenadiers,  but  the  substitute  being  shorter  could 
not  occupy  his  place.  The  colonel  insisting  on  his  right  to 
admit  a  man  of  the  minimum  height,  produced  a  permanent 
coolness  between  himself  and  his  brother  officer. 


20 


EARLY  DAYS. 


his  Bible  and  read  a  portion,  and  thus  let  God 
speak  to  his  household.  They  then  arose  and 
fell  upon  their  knees.  The  sight  overpowered 
me.  I  trembled  ;  I  almost  fainted.  At  last  I 
kneeled  down  too.  I  thought  of  my  past  life  ; 
I  thought  of  my  present  position ;  I  thought, 
Can  such  a  guilty  creature  be  saved  ?  I  heard 
but  little  of  my  kind  friend's  prayer.  All  my 
soul  seemed  turned  in  upon  myself.  My  con- 
science said — '  This  is  how  true  Christians 
live;  but  how  have  I  lived?  God  has  not 
been  in  all  my  thoughts  ;  but  now  I  will  begin 
to  seek  mercy.' 

"  I  went  to  bed  that  night  as  I  never  had 
gone  before.  On  entering  the  room,  I  looked 
around  for  a  Bible,  but  found  none.  There 
was  a  copy  of  '  Doddridge's  Hymns'  on  the 
table,  some  verses  of  which  I  read  on  my 
knees,  by  the  bed-side,  and  then  poured  out  my 
heart  in  broken  prayers,  and  went  to  bed. 
This  was  just  when  I  had  completed  my  twen- 
tieth year.  I  have  never  gone  to  Barnstaple 
of  late  years,  without  going  to  weep  over  the 
hallowed  spot  where  God  fastened  the  arrows 
of  conviction  in  my  heart." 


EARLY  DAYS. 


21 


"  There  was  from  that  time,"  he  writes  in 
1812,  "  a  great  alteration  in  my  outward  con- 
duct, and  I  could  not  commit  sin  without  stings 
of  conscience  ;  yet  I  was  a  stranger  to  that 
godly  sorrow  which  worketh  '  repentance 
which  needeth  not  to  be  repented  of.'  "  But  a 
new  residence  was  to  conduct  to  a  glorious 
change.  "  Mrs.  Isaac,  of  Bideford,"  he  says, 
"  wanted  a  person  to  conduct  her  business,  and 
to  instruct  her  only  son,  a  youth  a  little 
younger  than  myself.  I  was  recommended  to 
her,  and  agreed  to  go." 

For  some  time  after  this  removal,  which  oc- 
curred in  March,  1808,  he  continued  to  attend 
the  services  of  the  Established  Church  either 
at  Braunton  or  at  Bideford,  but  gave  no  indi- 
cations of  religious  progress  until  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Mr.  Thomas  Spencer,  a  young 
man  who  resided  next  door  to  him.  Mr. 
Spencer,  while  walking  in  his  master's  garden, 
repeatedly  heard  his  neighbour's  fine  voice  in 
song,  and  conceived  that  it  would  be  of  service 
both  to  the  congregation  and  to  himself  if  he 
could  induce  him  to  attend  the  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Rooker.    In  this  he  happily  sue* 


22 


EARLY  DAYS. 


ceeded.  The  songs  of  the  world  were  ex- 
changed for  those  of  Zion,  and  every  week  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Rooker  served  to  bring  some 
fresh  meaning  to  his  strains.  "  Mr.  Rooker,'- 
it  is  said  in  the  reminiscences,  "  was  a  holy 
man  of  God  and  a  sound  theologian,  deeply 
read  in  the  old  divines.  A  hungry  soul  could 
feed  and  thrive  on  his  ministry,  and  an  inquir- 
ing spirit  could  find  rest.  It  was  just  what  I 
needed  for  nursing  my  incipient  piety,  expand- 
ing my  religious  views,  and  fitting  me  for 
active  service." 

The  church  was  at  this  period,  it  seems,  in  a 
languid  state — inclined  to  repose  on  the  tradi- 
tion of  former  prosperity,  and  on  the  reputa- 
tion of  its  then  recently  deceased  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Lavington.  Mr.  Rooker  had  suc- 
ceeded this  excellent  man,  his  father-in-law,  as 
the  sole  pastor  of  the  church,  about  three  years 
before,  and  was  anxiously  desiring  better  times. 
A  sermon  which  he  preached  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  jubilee  of  George  III,  on  the  25th 
of  October,  1809,  was  accompanied  by  an  unu- 
sual impression ;  and  a  report  of  it,  from  Mr. 
Knill's  pen,  having  found  its  way  into  the 


EARLY  DAYS. 


23 


preacher's  hands,  he  was  led  to  seek  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  writer,  and  to  begin  a  life- 
long friendship  fraught  with  rich  blessings. 

It  was  about  eight  months  after  this  inci- 
dent that  the  two  friends,  Knill  and  Spencer, 
sought  admission  into  the  church.  They  were 
hailed  by  Mr.  Rooker  in  a  fine  paternal  ad- 
dress, founded  on  the  words,  "  I  have  drawn 
thee  with  cords  of  love  and  with  the  bands  of 
a  man,"  and  the  impulse  which  the  little  com- 
munity received  from  the  accession  was  of  the 
happiest  description.  Meetings  for  devotional 
purposes,  which  had  subsided  into  formality, 
were  revived  ;  and  there  was,"  says  a  con- 
temporary, "  an  earnestness,  an  unction,  and  a 
breathing  after  holiness  in  Mr.  KnilFs  prayers 
which  went  to  the  hearts  of  otliers."  A  Sun- 
day-school had  existed  for  some  years  under 
*  the  care  of  an  illiterate  teacher,  and  had  been 
reduced  to  an  almost  nominal  attendance, 
when,  about  a  fortnight  after  the  addition  of 
the  new  members,  Mr.  Rooker  proposed  that 
the  then  novel  system  of  voluntary  instruction 
should  be  tried.  Knill  and  his  companion 
seized  the  idea,  and  threw  their  new-born  en- 


24 


EARLY  DAYS. 


ergies  into  the  work.  The  poor  old  teacher's 
salary  was  continued  ;  but  a  staff  of  young 
persons  of  both  sexes  assumed  the  duties,  and 
the  school  sprung  into  a  new  existence.* 

The  anniversaries  of  the  institution  were 
seasons  of  great  interest,  which  the  pastor 
watchfully  applied  to  the  highest  ends.  His 
discourse  on  the  20th  of  Sept.,  1811,  deserves 
particular  commemoration.  As  a  contrast  to 
the  advantages  of  an  early  Christian  educa- 
tion, he  read  some  passages  from  "  Buchanan's 
Christian  Researches  in  the  East,"  a  book 
which  was  then  awakening  great  attention  in 
the  country.    As  he  went  over  the  thrilling 

*  For  several  particulars  in  this  part  of  the  Darrative,  the 
Editor  is  indebted  to  an  interesting  paper  relative  to  the 
origin  of  the  Bideford  Sunday-schools,  drawn  up  by  a  lady 
who  was  one  of  the  first  teachers,  and  who  happily  survives 
to  maintain  her  early  habits  of  usefulness.  A  curious  illus- 
tration of  the  difficulties  encountered  in  those  times  is  thus 
given: — "Mr.  Newcomen,  an  eminently  pious  and  benevo- 
lent man,  of  good  property,  having  read  of  Joseph  Lan- 
caster's plan  of  educating  children  by  mutual  instruction, 
ordered  the  books  and  lessons  with  the  view  of  establishing 
such  a  school  in  Bideford ;  but  being  told  it  would  injure  the 
poor  old  women  who  got  their  living  by  teaching  children, 
and  who  could  not  earn  a  subsistence  in  any  other  way,  he 
relinquished  the  attempt." 


EARLY  DAYS. 


25 


picture  of  the  pilgrims  to  Juggernaut,  and  re- 
counted facts  which  some  judged  too  revolting 
for  the  ears  of  an  English  auditory,  one  of  the 
teachers,  sitting  in  the  aisle  at  the  head  of  his 
class,  was  noticed  with  large  moistened  eyes 
fixed  on  the  preacher,  and  his  manly  open 
countenance  beaming  with  mingled  wonder 
and  compassion.  "  It  was,"  said  he,  long  after- 
wards, "  like  a  spark  on  tinder.  It  set  me  on 
fire  to  go  to  the  heathen.  I  did  not  know  of 
missionary  societies,  but  my  thoughts  were  set 
to  work,  and  I  borrowed  books  and  informed 
my  mind  on  the  subject.  I  was  afraid  to  men- 
tion my  impressions  to  my  pastor,  but  they 
smouldered  until  the  Lord's  time  came." 

Mr.  Knill,  in  later  life,  communicated  to  a 
small  periodical  an  account  of  an  incident, 
which  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  as  having  oc- 
curred at  this  advanced  period  of  his  profes- 
sion ;  but  the  most  careful  comparison  of 
events  does  not  admit  of  its  earlier  insertion. 
If  this  is  its  proper  place,  it  will  afford  a 
warning  all  the  more  striking  to  young  per- 
sons of  a  social  and  trusting  temperament. 
On  his  way  to  the  school  one  Sabbath  morn- 
3 


26 


EARLY  DAYS. 


ing,  lie  was  met  by  three  of  liis  former  com- 
panions, who  said  they  were  bound  on  an  ex- 
cursion up  the  river,  on  which  the  early  sun 
was  beautifully  gleaming.  Partly  by  sarcasm 
and  partly  by  entreaty,  they  induced  him  to 
join  their  party.  The  boat  glided  up  the 
stream,  and  had  scarcely  shut  out  the  town 
behind  the  richly-wooded  banks,  when  "  the 
church  bell  rung  out,"  the  narrator  says,  "  sig- 
nifying to  the  inhabitants  that  it  was  nine 
o'clock,  and  that,  by  and  by,  divine  service 
would  commence.  The  sound  of  the  bell 
vibrated  sweetly  on  the  undulating  wave,  and 
produced  a  tranquillizing  effect  on  three  of 
the  party,  but  to  the  fourth  it  was  perfect 
agony.  Perhaps  a  poor  condemned  criminal, 
on  the  morning  of  his  execution,  hears  the 
prison-clock  strike  which  warns  him  of  the 
fatal  hour,  with  just  the  same  feelings  as  this 
young  man  heard  the  nine  o'clock  bell.  Tliat 
well-known  sound  had  been  to  him,  for  months 
past,  the  signal  for  commencing  the  Sunday- 
school,  and  now  the  wiiole  of  the  Sunday-school 
proceedings  spread  out  before  the  eye  of  his 
mind.     His  conscience  was  very  busy  :  the 


EARLY  DAYS. 


27 


Spirit  set  liis  guilty  conduct  in  terrible  array 
before  him.  He  fancied  he  heard  the  children 
sing,  the  teacher  pray,  the  school  business 
begin,  and  every  man  at  his  post  but  one,  and 
that  was  himself.  In  vain  did  his  companions 
laugh,  and  banter  him,  and  try  to  cheer  him. 
No — God  had  smitten  him  ;  and  a  wounded 
spirit  who  can  bear  ?  They  had  taken  some 
musical  instruments  with  the  mwith  an  inten- 
tion to  play  ;  but  his  harp  was  now  unstrung, 
and  the  whole  day  was  spent  by  him  in  perfect 
misery.  If  he  could  have  jumped  ashore  he 
would  have  done  it,  but  he  could  not  ;  yet  one 
thing  he  did,  and  it  was  Avorth  doing.  He 
solemnly  resolved  never  to  break  the  Sabbath 
again,  and  never  more  to  associate  with  those 
who  fear  not  God,  but  to  come  out  from  among 
them  and  be  separate  ;  and  God  has  enabled 
him  to  perform  this  vow." 

After  this,  his  deepened  convictions  of  duty 
found  expression  in  various  efforts  after  useful- 
ness, one  of  which  he  thus  describes  : — "  The 
North  Devon  Local  Militia  was  about  to  be 
disbanded  at  Barnstaple.  The  regiment  con- 
sisted of  one  thousand  men,  who  were  soon  to 


28 


EARLY  DAYS. 


return  to  their  families  in  almost  every  parish 
of  the  north  division  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Mills,  with  whom  I  had  become  acquainted 
through  the  Barnstaple  Sunday-school,  said  to 
me,  '  What  a  noble  opportunity  there  is  for 
distributing  religious  tracts  in  all  the  dark 
villages  around  !  The  regiment  will  give  us  a 
thousand  distributers,  if  we  can  only  get  them 
conveyed  to  the  men.'  I  said,  '  How  can  it  be 
done?  '  To  which  he  answered,  '  I  have  not 
nerve  enough  to  give  the  tracts  to  the  soldiers  ; 
but  I  will  furnish  you  with  the  tracts,  if  you 
will  circulate  them.'  '  Agreed.'  The  tracts 
were  obtained,  and  I  set  about  my  work.  The 
men  were  assembled  in  the  barrack-yard,  wait- 
ing for  the  signal  to  deliver  up  their  arms.  I 
made  my  way  to  the  Pioneers,  who  stood  at 
the  right,  and  said,  '  Friends,  will  you  take 
home  a  beautiful  little  book  to  your  families  ?' 
They  joyfully  received  them.  I  next  came  to 
the  band.  I  took  '  Christ  the  only  Refuge 
from  the  Wrath  to  Come,'  and  offered  it  to  the 
master.  He  looked  at  me,  and  said  '  I  under- 
stand that  you  go  about  converting  people; 
can  you  convert  me  ?'  I  replied,  '  It  is  not  in 


EARLY  DAYS. 


29 


my  power  to  convert  people;  but  if  it  were, 
the  first  person  I  would  convert,  sir,  should  be 
Serjeant  Reynolds.'  '  Well,'  said  he,  *  that  is 
plain  enough.'  '  Yes,'  I  added,  '  and  it  is  sin- 
cere too.  Now,  this  tract  may  convert  you, 
Serjeant  ;  it  was  written  by  that  great  man, 
Mr.  Hervey,  who  wrote  "  Meditations  among 
the  Tombs."  '  '  Ah,'  said  he,  '  I  have  read  that 
book,  and  I  will  take  your  tract  and  read  it 
too.'  This  was  just  what  I  wanted,  for 
immediately  all  the  musicians  took  tracts.  I 
proceeded  next  to  the  grenadiers,  who  were  all 
pleased,  until  I  came  to  one  merry-andrew  kind 
of  a  fellow.  He  took  the  tract  and  held  it  up, 
swore  at  it,  and  asked,  '  Are  you  going  to  con- 
vert me  ?'  I  said,  '  Don't  swear  at  the  tract  ; 
you  cannot  hurt  the  tract,  but  swearing  will 
injure  your  soul.'  '  Who  are  you  ? '  he  ex- 
claimed. '  Form  a  circle  round  him,'  said  he  to 
his  comrades, '  and  I  will  swear  at  him.'  They 
did  so  :  he  swore  fearfully,  and  I  wept.  The 
tears  moved  the  feelings  of  the  other  men,  and 
they  said,  '  Let  him  go  ;  he  means  to  do  us 
good.'  So  I  distributed  my  thousand  tracts,  and 
left  them  in  the  care  of  Him  who  said, '  My  word 
3^ 


EARLY  DAYS. 


shall  not  return  unto  me  void.'  Many  years 
after  I  Lad  taken  leave  of  these  soldiers,  I  re- 
turned from  India  to  my  native  country,  and 
visited  Ilfracombe.  There  I  was  invited  to 
preach  in  the  open  air,  a  few  miles  distant. 
Preparations  were  made  for  my  visit ;  and 
during  the  time  that  I  was  preaching,  I  saw  a 
tall,  grey-headed  man  in  the  crowd,  weeping, 
and  a  tall  young  man,  who  looked  like  his  son, 
standing  by  his  side,  and  weeping  also.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  service,  they  both  came 
up  to  me,  and  the  father  said,  '  Do  you  recollect 
giving  tracts  to  the  local  militia  at  Barnstaple 
some  years  ago  V  '  Yes.'  Do  you  recollect 
anything  particular  of  that  distribution  ? ' 
'  Yes ;  I  recollect  one  of  the  granadiers 
swore  at  me  till  he  made  me  weep.'  '  Stop,' 
said  he  ;  '  oh,  sir,  I  am  the  man.  I  never  for- 
gave myself  for  that  wicked  act.  But  I  hope 
it  has  led  me  to  repentance,  and  that  God  has 
forgiven  me.  And  now,  let  me  ask,  will  you 
forgive  me?'  It  quite  overcame  me  for  tlie 
moment,  and  we  parted  with  a  prayer  that  we 
might  meet  in  heaven.  Is  not  this  encourage- 
ment ?  May  we  not  well  say,  one  tract  may 
save  a  soul  ?  " 


EAliLY  DAYS.  31 

The  piety,  tact,  and  courage  which  he  thus 
early  exhibited,  awakened  in  the  minds  of  Mr. 
Knill's  friends  the  idea  that  he  might  be 
destined  for  tlie  Christian  ministry.  The 
Rev.  William  Rooker,  of  Tavistock,  brother 
of  his  excellent  pastor,  when  on  a  visit  to  Bide- 
ford,  asked  him  whether  his  desires  tended 
towards  that  work.  To  this  he  replied,  that 
w^hile  he  scarcely  dared  to  admit  the  fact,  and 
could  see  no  way  of  accomplishing  such  an 
object,  the  wish  to  be  wholly  consecrated  to 
the  publication  of  the  gospel  occupied  all  his 
thoughts.  The  path  was  soon  opened  ;  and  he 
proceeded  for  classical  and  theological  study 
to  the  Western  Academy. 


CHAPTER  n. 


"  There's  a  voice  upon  the  waters 
Deeper  than  the  sounding  sea  ; 
Zion  1  wake  thy  sons  and  daughters, 
Heaven  and  earth  are  in  the  plea." 

M.  G-.  Saffert. 


(33) 


3 


mSSIONARY  COj^SECRATIOK 

"  The  Western  Academy  is  of  ancient  date 
among  the  colleges  for  Dissenters.  It  usually 
had  eight  students,  partly  supported  by  the 
King's  Head  Society  in  London,  and  partly 
from  other  sources.  My  honoured  pastor  inter- 
ested himself  deeply  about  me,  and  obtained 
my  admission.  It  was  at  that  time  under  the 
watchful  care  and  instruction  of  the  Rev. 
James  Small,  Axminster,  Devon.  Into  this 
school  of  the  prophets  I  was  cordially  wel- 
comed in  the  autumn  of  1812.  It  was  a  fine 
retired,  happy  place  for  those  who  wished  to 
be  happy  in  it.  Many  and  great  were  its 
advantages.  One  of  these  was,  that  the  stu- 
dents formed  part  of  the  family,  took  their 
meals  at  the  family  table,  and  kneeled  around 
the  family  altar.  The  presence  of  ladies  always 
has  a  refining  effect  on  young  men,  who,  in 
general,  need  refining.     This  privilege  we 

(35) 


36 


MISSIONARY  COXSECRATIOX. 


had.  Mr.  Small  made  a  point  of  calling  tlie 
students  by  name  between  five  and  six  every 
morning,  and  a  fine  was  levied  on  tlie  person 
who  was  not  down  stairs  before  six  o'clock. 
It  gives  me  pleasure  to  recollect  that  I  was 
never  fined.  I  learned  habits  of  punctuality 
which  have  been  of  use  to  me  all  through  my 
life. 

*'  In  looking  back  on  tliis  movement,  I  feel 
that  it  is  a  very  solemn  matter  for  a  young 
man  of  twenty-five  to  leave  the  business  in 
which  he  has  been  brought  up,  and  enter  upon 
a  life  of  study  for  the  ministry.  If  he  fail  as 
a  preacher  he  is  ruined.  His  student's  life 
has  unfitted  him  for  returning  again  to  busi- 
ness, and  in  this  way  many  excellent  men,  who 
would  have  shone  in  secular  life,  have  been 
compelled  to  drag  out  a  miserable  existence. 
Ministers  cannot  be  too  cautious  in  recommend- 
ing young  men  to  our  colleges." 

"  My  Bideford  friends  considered  it  quite 
an  era  in  the  history  of  their  Sunday-school, 
that  one  of  their  first  teachers  should  become 
a  minister.  They  loaded  me  with  kindness  on 
my  departure,  and  always  greeted  me  with 


MISSIONARY  CONSECRATION. 


37 


sweet  fraternal  affection  at  every  subsequent 
return." 

Nor  did  the  young  student  fail  to  cherish 
tender  reminiscences  of  these  early  friends 
and  scenes.  To  his  recent  companion,  Mr. 
Thomas  Isaac,  he  writes  from  "  Axminster,"  on 
the  9th  February,  1814  : — "  The  revolving  sea- 
son forcibly  reminds  me  of  my  first  acquaint- 
ance with  you — an  acquaintance  which,  I 
trust,  will  be  strengthened  and  matured  even 
to  eternity.  It  is  now  just  six  years  since 
that  memorable  hour  —  ever-memorable,  in- 
deed, to  me.  Instead  of  saying  with  Job 
(on  another  occasion),  '  Let  it  not  be  joined 
unto  the  days  of  the  year,  let  it  not  come 
into  the  number  of  the  months,'  I  would  pray, 
'  Lord,  let  it  be  engraven  on  my  heart  in 
indelible  characters,'  for  then  I  began  to  seek 
the  Lord — then  I  began  to  live.  I  am  aston- 
ished when  I  consider  the  innumerable  mercies 
the  Lord  has  conferred  upon  me  since  that  peri- 
od.   Oh,  that  I  could  feel  grateful  as  I  ought ! 

"  At  times  I  can  with  great  perspicuity  trace 
the  Lord's  hand  in  leading  me  to  live  with 
vou,  in  drawing  me  to  hear  that  good  man 
4 


38 


MISSIONARY  COXSECRATIOX. 


Mr.  Rooker  preach  the  glorious  gospel,  in 
sweetly  constraining  me  to  attend  the  prayer- 
meeting,  and  at  last  in  bringing  me  to  this 
place.  And  cannot  you  behold  it  is  the  Lord  s 
doing  ?    Then  lift  up  a  song  of  praise  for  me." 

At  the  midsummer  vacation  he  returned  for 
a  short  time  to  Bideford,  and  afterwards  had 
the  happiness  of  learning  that  his  conversa- 
tion had  been  the  means  of  leading  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  neighbouring  farmer,  whom  he  had 
frequently  visited,  to  a  life  of  devoted  piety. 
The  manner  in  which  tlie  decided  character  of 
this  young  person  triumphed,  by  the  power  of 
God,  over  severe  domestic  persecution,  and 
led  to  the  conversion  of  her  father  and  mother, 
and  her  brothers  and  sisters,  as  well  as  to  the 
commencement  and  continued  maintenance  of 
evangelical  light  in  a  benighted  parish,  is 
strikingly  depicted  by  Mr.  KnilFs  own  pen,  in 
the  little  narrative  called  "  The  Farmer  and 
his  Family." 

"  On  my  return  fi^om  Russia,"  he  observes, 
in  the  reminiscences,  "  I  went  to  visit  the  farm 
on  which  the  family  resided.  The  venerable 
father  was  sitting  in  his  arm-chair  in  front  of 


MISSIOXARY  CONSECRATION. 


39 


the  house,  to  see  me  arrive,  and  to  give  me 
the  first  welcome.  As  he  approached  me,  with 
snow-white  locks  floating  over  his  shoulders, 
he  burst  into  tears,  caught  me  by  the  hand,  and 
with  a  faltering  voice  said,  '  Dear  Mr.  Knill, 
we  are  a  whole  family  going  to  heaven  now, 
and  Betsy  has  been  the  means  of  it  all.' 

The  period  spent  at  Axminster  was  devoted 
to  study,  not  in  itself  calculated  to  quicken 
the  spiritual  life  ;  but  his  heart  gave  no  sign 
of  diminished  sensibility.  The  peculiar  ease 
which  he  afterwards  displayed  in  touching 
and  carrying  with  him  the  feelings  of  an  au- 
ditory evinced  itself  even  then,  and  under  cir- 
cumstances by  no  means  such  as  predisposed 
to  the  expression  of  the  emotions.  It  was  the 
custom  for  the  students,  after  the  first  year's 
residence,  to  read  a  discourse  in  turn  for  the 
criticism  of  their  compeers  and  tutor.  When 
under  skilful  guidance,  there  is  probably  no 
better  training  for  the  actual  duty  of  the  pul- 
pit. On  the  first  occasion  when  Mr.  Knill 
submitted  a  production  to  this  ordeal,  he  se- 
lected as  his  text,  "  Ye  who  sometimes  were 
far  off  are  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ 


40 


MISSIONARY  COXSECRATIOX. 


and  proceeded  to  illustrate  the  words  from  bis 
own  experience,  and  to  urge  tlie  claims  of 
Christ  to  the  gratitude  of  redeemed  men,  with 
such  force  and  pathos,  that  several  of  the  stu- 
dents, forgetting  their  judicial  character,  were 
melted  to  tears.  The  conclusion  was  followed 
by  a  long  pause,  after  which  the  president, 
observing  the  general  impression,  and  drying 
his  own  tears,  rose  and  left  the  room,  saying, 
"  Brethren,  criticism  is  disarmed  to-day." 

In  the  month  of  April,  1814,  a  missionary 
meeting  was  held  at  Bridport,  Dorset,  a  town 
about  twelve  miles  distant  from  Axminster. 

"  Perhaps  this  was  the  first  which  had  been 
held  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Missionary 
meetings  were  great  novelties  then.  I  had  never 
seen  one,  nor  had  any  of  my  fellow-students. 
Happily  for  us  the  Rev.  Mr.  Saltern  wrote  to 
our  tutor,  inviting  him  over,  and  '  bring  the  stu- 
dents with  you,  sir,'  said  he  ;  'it  may  do  them 
good.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Waugh  of  London  is  go- 
ing to  preach.  I  should  like  them  to  hear  him.' 
So  we  all  went  to  Bridport,  and  Dr.  Waugh 
preached.  He  took  for  his  text,  '  It  shall  come 
to  pass  in  that  day,  that  tlie  great  trumpet  sliall 


MISSIONARY  COXSECRATIOX.  41 

be  blown,  and  they  shall  come  which  were  ready 
to  perish.'  His  plan  was  to  show,  firsts  that 
the  heathen  were  perishing,  and  that  they  could 
not  help  themselves  ;  second,  that  God,  in  His 
boundless  love,  had  provided  a  remedy  for 
them — the  *  blowing  of  the  great  trumpet/ 
Then  he  enlarged  in  his  own  peculiar  manner 
on  the  gospel,  and  its  adaptation  to  the  wants 
of  sinners  ;  and  after  a  grand  display  of  evan- 
gelical truth,  he  paused,  and  said, '  My  brethren, 
this  great  trumpet  cannot  blow  itself,  it  must 
be  sounded  by  men — redeemed,  converted 
men— those  who  themselves  have  tasted  the  joys 
of  pardoned  sin,  and  who,  from  their  own  hap- 
py experience,  can  tell  the  heathen  what  a  pre- 
cious Saviour  Jesus  is.  We  want  such  men, 
and  we  must  have  them.'  He  then  looked 
around,  as  if  wishing  to  fix  his  piercing  eye  on 
some  object,  and  in  melting  tones  said,  *  Is  there 
in  this  congregation  one  young  disciple  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  who  has  love  enough  in  his  heart 
to  his  Master,  to  say,  "  Lord,  here  am  I,  send 
me  ? I  felt  the  appeal.  It  entered  into  my 
soul,  and  I  silently  said,  '  Lord,  I  will  go.'  This 
was  a  solemn  hour  to  me.  I  bless  God  for  it, 
4* 


42 


MISSIONARY  CONSECRATION. 


and  shall  ever  bless  Him.  The  service  ended, 
and  the  students  were  all  invited  to  dine  with 
the  ministers  ;  but  I  had  no  appetite  for  food. 
My  heart  was  full.  The  family  of  our  senior 
student,  Mr.  Hart,  resided  in  Bridport.  and  from 
them  I  procured  a  little  chamber,  where  I  spent 
some  hours  alone  in  fasting  and  prayer.  I  have 
had  that  little  room  in  my  eye  ten  thousand 
times  since,  for  there  I  spent  some  of  the  hap- 
piest moments  of  my  life,  in  saying  again  to  Him 
who  redeemed  me,  '  Lord,  I  will  go." 

"  Mr.  Small  sent  for  me  next  morning  to  con- 
verse with  me  about  it  ;  and  when  he  found 
what  were  my  feelings,  he  wrote  to  the  secre- 
tary of  the  London  Missionary  Society  to  make 
inquiries.  In  the  meantime,  I  went  home  to 
consult  my  honoured  parents,  and  to  endeavour 
to  obtain  their  sanction.  I  had  given  them 
trouble  enough  about  the  army,  and  I  wished 
not  to  wound  their  feelings  again.  My  father 
heard  me  with  great  patience,  and  said,  '  I  will 
throw  no  impediment  in  your  way  ;  but  what 
will  your  mother  say  ?'  I  thought  I  was  sure  on 
that  point,  for  slie  loved  Jesus  more  than  Chris- 
tians in  general  do  ;  but  I  was  mistaken.  My 


MiSSIOXAUy  CONSECRATIOX.  -io 

mother's  feelings  were  too  strong.  She  said, 
'  Richard,  how  can  you  think  of  leaving  me  ?  I 
am  advancing  in  years,  and  I  have  always  com- 
forted myself  with  the  hope  that  you  would  be 
with  me  to  pray  with  me,  and  to  cheer  me  when 
I  shall  pass  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death.  I  cannot  give  my  consent.  You  should 
have  seen  me  under  the  clods  of  the  valley  first.' 

"  Here  I  was  driven  to  my  wit's  end.  I  knew 
that  God  never  smiles  on  a  son  who  breaks  a 
parent's  heart.  I  could  expect  no  blessing  if  I 
disobeyed  so  good  a  mother.  But  she  betook 
herself  to  prayer,  and  at  last  prayer  prevailed. 
She  prayed  for  days,  and  nights  too  ;  and  one 
morning,  as  I  met  her  at  her  chamber  door,  the 
tears  were  dried  up.  Her  countenance  was 
again  tranquil,  and  she  caught  me  round  the 
neck,  and  with  a  mother's  fond  embrace,  said, — 
'  Now,  my  dear  son,  it  is  all  settled  ;  God  has 
given  me  grace  to  say  to  you,  Go  ;  and  I  bless 
Him  for  putting  it  into  your  heart  to  go,  and  I 
adore  Him  for  giving  me  an  Isaac  to  offer  on 
His  altar.  Go,  my  son,  go  ;'  and  from  that 
hour  until  the  day  that  she  died,  she  did  nothing 
but  cheer  me." 


44 


MISSIOXARY  COXSECRATIOX. 


That  he  had  viewed  the  subject  with  as  much 
prudence  as  zeal,  may  be  gathered  from  a  few 
lines  to  Mr.  Walter  Bowen  of  Bideford,  dated 
Axminster,  IGth  April,  1814  : — "  Perhaps  you 
have  not  forgotten  that  a  spark  of  missionary 
fire  was  kindled  in  my  bosom  through  tlie 
instrumentality  of  our  dear  Mr.  Rooker  ;  but 
now,  sir,  with  unspeakable  pleasure,  I  inform 
you  that  sjoarh  is  blown  into  a  flame — a  flame 
which,  I  hope,  and  pray,  and  trust,  will  burn 
increasingly  bright  and  clear  till  my  pulse  shall 
cease  to  beat,  and  my  disembodied  spirit  join 
the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect,  where  the 
righteous  shall  shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the 
kingdom  of  their  Father. 

I  have  signified  my  intention  to  my  rever- 
ed tutor,  who  readily  acquiesced,  and  kindly 
ofiTered  to  accelerate  so  desirable  an  object.  As 
it  is  an  unprecedented  tiling  at  Axminster 
Academy,  Mr.  Small  has  written  to  the  commit- 
tee (which  I  particularly  solicited),  in  order 
that  I  might  have  an  honourable  acquittal  from 
hence,  without  which  principle  would  not 
sufi'er  me  to  go.  I  expect  to  hear  the  result  in 
a  few  days,  when  it  will  be  forwarded  to  the 


MISSIONARY  CONSECRATION. 


45 


directors,  and  I  hope  my  orders  will  soon  arrive 
to  go  to  Mr.  Bogue's,  Gosport,  or  wherever 
they  may  think  proper  to  send  me.  After  read- 
ing this,  you  may  be  ready  to  ask,  '  Have  you, 
my  dear  friend,  thoroughly  weighed  the  impor- 
tant matter  V  I  will  tell  you,  sir.  I  have  been 
in  the  habit  of  asking  myself  such  questions  as 
these  : — 

"  Can  you  leave  your  dear  parents  ? — This 
is,  indeed,  a  hard  question  :  the  ties  of  natural 
affection  bind  me  fast,  and  many  other  things, 
better  conceived  than  expressed,  press  sore 
upon  me  for  their  sakes.  But  if  Jesus  calls.  I 
must  obey ;  for  '  he  that  loveth  father  or 
mother  more  than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me.' 
Yes,  I  can  l^ave  my  parents. 

"  Can  you  part  with  friends  ? — My  friends 
are  dear  to  me  ;  I  love  them  with  a  Christian 
love,  but  I  am  not  my  friends^  yea,  I  am  not 
my  own,  but  Clirisfs.  My  friends  could  not 
purchase  salvation  for  me,  and  I  was  totally 
incapable  of  effecting  it  myself ;  surely  I  am 
bought  Avith  a  price,  and  bound  to  glorify  God 
in  my  body  and  my  spirit,  which  are  His.  Yes, 
I  can  leave  my  friends. 


46 


MlSSlOXAilY  COXSECRATiUX. 


Cau  you  leave  the  enjoyments  of  your 
native  country  ? — The  comforts  I  am  favoured 
with  here  are  very  great,  and  flesh  and  blood 
say,  'Enjoy  them  a  little  longer.'  But,  0  my 
soul,  confer  not  with  flesh  and  blood.  As  for 
soul  enjoyments,  they  are  derived  from  the 
visits  of  my  dear  Redeemer,  and  He  can  visit 
my  soul  in  tlie  remotest  regions.  John  was 
banished  on  the  Isle  of  Patmos,  but  there  he 
enjoyed  peculiar  manifestations  of  the  Divine 
favour.  Paul  and  Silas  were  thrust  into  the 
inner  prison,  and  their  feet  made  fast  in  the 
stocks,  but  Jesus  drew  near  and  caused  them 
to  burst  into  a  song  even  at  midnight.  Then, 

0  my  soul,  let  the  enjoyments  of  thy  native 
country  vanish  when  contemplatii^  the  glory 
of  God  in  the  salvation  of  the  heathen.  Yes, 

1  can  leave  this,  too. 

"  Are  your  bodily  powers  equal  to  the 
arduous  undertaking? — My  body,  indeed,  is 
weak,  but  the  Master  whom  I  serve  is  the 
preserver  of  body  as  well  as  spirit.  He  is  the 
great  Physician,  and  will  make  me  immortal 
till  my  work  is  done.  It  is  a  useful  life  I  wish 
for,  whether  long  or  short,  and  consequently  I 


MISSIONARY  COXSECRATIOX. 


47 


devote  all  my  powers  to  so  good  a  eaiise. 
Then,  such  as  my  body  is,  Lord,  I  resign  it  to 
Thee  ;  do  with  it  as  Thou  pleasest.  But,  0  my 
soul,  the  most  important  question  remains  to 
be  answered  :  Art  thou  competent  to  so  great, 
so  arduous,  so  honourable  a  work  ? — Here 
stop  and  wonder.  The  prophet  complained, 
'  Who  hath  believed  our  report  V  and  the 
apostle,  under  a  sense  of  his  weakness,  ex- 
claimed, *  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  V 
And  art  thou  greater  than  these  ?  No  ;  whilst 
I  look  to  myself,  I  must  despair  ;  but  while  I 
look  b'elievingly  to  Jesus,  then  I  am  strong, 
knowing  that  I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ  strengthening  me.  Then  do  not  be 
discouraged  ;  look  to  the  promises,  they  are 
more  than  suMcient  for  thee,  and  His  strength 
shall  be  made  perfect  in  thy  weakness.  0 
blessed  Jesus,  here  am  I,  send  me  ! 

'  'Tis  to  my  Saviour  I  would  live, 
To  Him  who  for  my  ransom  died.'  " 

The  steps  by  which  he  closed  this  stage  of 
his  journey  are  indicated  in  the  following 
communications — the  first  to  Mr.  Isaac,  and 
the  second  to  Mr.  Rooker  : 


48 


MISSIONARY  COXSECllATIOX. 


"  Axminster,  30th  May,  1814. 

.  .  .  .  I  haYG  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Burder,  secretary  to  the  Missionary  Society, 
which  states  a  probability  of  my  being  sent  for 
to  visit  Mr.  Campbell  in  London,  who  is  lately 
returned  from  the  Cape.  It  is  in  contem- 
plation, if  I  am  accepted,  to  send  me  to  tlie 
city  of  Lattakoo.  Lord,  support  me  !  Believe 
me,  my  dear  friend,  I  am  almost  overwhelmed, 
but  I  hope  in  His  mercy,  who  has  helped  me 
hitherto.  Entreat  the  sympathy  and  prayers 
of  my  dear  Bideford  friends,  though  I  firmly 
believe  I  need  not  entreat  them." 

"  Islington,  London,  1st  September,  1814. 

"  Being  about  to  leave  London  to-morrow, 
and  having  learnt  from  experience  your  con- 
cern for  me,  I  avail  myself  of  the  pleasure  of 
sending  you  a  little  information.  My  journey 
was  not  a  very  agreeable  one,  though  the 
weather  was  fine,  the  views  delightful,  and  my 
business  big  with  importance.  But  we  arrived 
in  town  at  half-past  seven  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, and  shortly  after  I  found  myself  in  the 
house  of  a  mother  in  Israel.    Here,  sir,  I  was 


MISSIONARY  CONSECRATION. 


49 


introduced  to  three  brethren,  a  Dane,  a  Scotch- 
man, and  a  Welshman.  How  refreshing  the 
sio-ht !  How  cheerinof  their  discourse  !  For 
though  they  spoke  broken  English,  yet  they 
spoke  the  language  of  Canaan  fluently  and 
sweetly.  Oh,  my  dear  Mr.  Rooker,  how  full  of 
joy  is  the  hope  of  spending  an  eternity  with 
some  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people, 
and  tongues,  who  shall  all  speak  the  same  pure 
language,  all  join  in  the  same  harmonious 
song,  and  all  unite  in  adoring  our  precious 
Redeemer. 

"  Last  Monday,  the  committee  met  at  Grocers' 
Hall,  No.  8  Old  Jewry,  when  Mr.  Evans,  the 
Welshman,  and  myself,  Y>'ere  examined  and  ap- 
proved :  the  other  two  had  passed  this  before. 
It  was  resolved  that  we  should  all  spend  some 
time  at  Gosport — how  long  is  not  determined. 
Yesterday  we  w^ere  favoured  with  an  interview 
with  Mr.  Campbell,  at  his  own  house.  He 
kindly  showed  us  a  variety  of  curious  things 
which  he  met  with  in  his  tour  ;  he  gave  us  a 
very  pleasing  and  interesting  account  of  his 
travels  ;  he  spoke  in  high  terms  of  the  salubri- 
ous air,  the  abundance  of  cattle,  the  beautiful 
4 


50 


MISSIONARY  COXSECRATION. 


prospects,  &c.,  which  are  peculiar  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Lattakoo.  He  held  up  to  view, 
also,  a  little  of  the  dark  side  of  the  cloud  ;  but 
we  must  go  there  to  know  it  all. 

"  Most  sincerely  do  I  thank  you,  sir,  and 
your  dear  people,  for  your  great  kindness  to 
me  at  your  prayer-meeting  after  I  was  gone  ; 
for  valuable  and  numerous  as  the  kindnesses 
are  which  I  have  received,  both  from  minister 
and  people,  this  outweighs  them  all." 


CHAPTER  ni. 


"  God  hath  made  all  things  for  the  sake  of  man,  and  man 
for  His  own  sake."— Augustixe. 

(61) 


PUTTINa  ON  THE  AEMOIIR. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Bogue  is  identified  with  the  ear- 
liest movements  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society.  Several  of  his  appeals  through  the 
public  press  contributed  more  than  any  other 
single  cause  to  the  concentration  of  the  ener- 
gies of  thousands  of  good  men,  which  issued 
in  the  formation  of  that  institution. 

For  several  years  prior  to  the  commence- 
ment of  its  work,  he  had  united  to  his  pastoral 
duties  the  task  of  educating  young  men  for  the 
home  ministry,  and  the  early  candidates  for 
missionary  labour  were  naturally  added  to  the 
number  of  his  students.  His  masterly  under- 
standing, early  academic  training,  and  ardent 
zeal,  well  qualified  him  for  such  a  position. 
His  own  capacity  for  labour,  indeed,  was  so 
vast,  that  he  often  over-taxed  the  powers  of 
his  pupils  ;  but  they  seldom  failed  to  acquire 
sound  habits  of  thought,  a  thorough  acquaint- 

5*  [53] 


54 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


ance  with  the  Bible,  and  intense  thirst  for  use- 
fulness. 

"  The  whole  morning,"  says  Dr.  Bennct,  in 
describing  the  course  of  instruction,  "  was 
sometimes  given  to  prayer  and  other  devotional 
exercises,  to  prepare  for  a  new  session,  or  to 
implore  the  Divine  blessing  upon  those  who 
were  going  forth  to  take  the  cliarge  of  souls. 
On  such  occasions  the  awe  of  the  Divine  pres- 
ence has  been  very  powerfully  felt,  and  the 
most  devout  and  profitable  intercourse  has 
been  maintained  between  the  tutor  and  the 
students,  as  between  them  and  their  God." 

Mr.  Knill  sometimes  mentioned  a  circum- 
stance which  impressed  him  with  the  reality  of 
those  prayers,  and  the  unreasonableness  of  ex- 
pecting the  Divine  blessing  while  any  known 
duty  was  neglected.  A  religious  service  in 
one  of  the  neighbouring  villages,  which  was 
not  popular  with  the  students  because  it  oc- 
curred on  a  week  evening  and  broke  in  upon 
their  studies,  was  one  day  left  unprovided  for. 
Mr.  Knill,  whose  turn  it  was  to  offer  tlie 
prayer  which  preceded  the  academic  lecture, 
was  about  to  proceed,  when  tlie  Doctor  inter- 


PUTTIXG  OX  THE  ARMOUR.  55 

posed.  "  Stop,  Mr.  Knill,  we  cannot  pray  un- 
til a  supply  for  Elson  is  obtained."  "  I  will 
go,  sir,"  said  the  person  he  had  arrested. 
"  Thank  you,  sir,"  he  replied  ;  "  now  we  may 
venture  to  approach  the  throne." 

It  was  the  spirit  which  breathed  in  such  in- 
cidents as  this,  which  enabled  Dr.  Bogue's 
biographer  to  say,  "  No  one  could  leave  Gos- 
port  without  a  deep  impression  of  the  gran- 
deur and  responsibility  of  the  ministry,  and  an 
awful  anticipation  of  the  day  when  every  shep- 
herd of  souls  must  render  up  his  account  to 
the  Good  Shepherd,  who  laid  down  His  life 
for  the  sheep." 

"  I  found,"  says  Mr.  Knill,  in  his  general 
reminiscences  of  Gosport,  "  a  large  number  of 
students,  some  for  the  ministry  at  home,  but 
the  greater  part  for  the  heathen.  There  was 
no  college  building.  The  students  boarded 
with  various  families,  and  met  Dr.  Bogue  for 
his  lectures  daily  in  the  vestry  of  his  chapel. 
Mr.  SmalFs  academy,  which  I  had  just  left, 
was  a  place  of  seclusion  and  hard  study,  with 
gi'eat  gates  to  keep  us  safely  ;  but  at  Gosport 
there  was  anything  but  seclusion.    As  far  as 


66 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


missionaries  were  concerned,  there  was,  indeed, 
hard  work,  and  for  those  wlio,  like  myself, 
were  to  remain  but  for  a  short  time,  it  was 
'  life  in  earnest.'  I  have  often  wondered  how 
any  of  us  survived.  We  had  to  write  as  much 
from  the  Doctor's  various  lecture-books,  as 
would  moderately  fill  up  a  man's  time.  In 
addition  to  this,  we  had  to  prepare  for  the 
various  classes,  and  to  preach  almost  every 
Sunday.  The  tutor's  great  soul  was  set  on  the 
conversion  of  sinners  abroad  ;  but  he  could 
not  bear  the  thought  that  any  should  perish 
for  lack  of  knowledge  at  home.  Hence  his 
zeal  for  breaking  up  every  inch  of  fallow 
ground  in  Hampshire." 

This  laborious  life,  how^ever,  was  varied  by 
enlivening  scenes. 

"  We  have  lately,"  he  writes  to  Mrs.  Isaac, 
on  the  24th  April,  1815,  "parted  with  some 
of  our  missionary  brethren  ;  two  for  Surat,  and 
one  for  Malacca.  About  twenty  of  the  breth- 
ren accompanied  them  to  the  ship,  which  lay 
at  the  Mother-bank.  You  may  conceive  what 
were  our  feelings  as  we  talked  with  them  by 
the  way.    Sometimes  we  were  overwhelmed 


PUTTING  OX  THE  ARMOUR. 


57 


by  the  difficulties,  and  then  ^"e  were  animated 
with  the  pleasing  prospect,  the  delightful  hope, 
of  bringing  poor  heathen  to  Jesus.  At  last 
tlie  moment  came  for  us  to  part.  Some  took  a 
long  farewell,  not  with  the  most  distant  hope 
of  seeing  each  other  again  in  the  flesh,  while 
others  entertained  the  expectation  of  meeting 
again  in  the  Eastern  world.  The  voyagers 
were  left  apparently  with  a  sacred  calm  upon 
their  hearts  ;  but  w-e,  in  the  returning  bark, 
made  the  billovrs  echo  with 

'  Salvation,  0  the  joyful  sound !'  " 

To  the  same  correspondent  he  mentions  an 
occurrence,  which  illustrates  the  tact  to  which 
he  owed  so  much  of  his  usefulness. 

"  Last  Sabbath-week  I  was  supplying  for 
Mr.  Hunt  of  Chichester,  who  is  republishing 
the  works  of  the  great  Mr.  Howe,  of  Torring- 
ton.  On  my  way  thither,  my  ears  were  insult- 
ed and  my  heart  pained  by  the  vain  discourse 
of  a  gentleman  who  sat  in  the  coach  witli  me. 
After  some  time,  I  spoke  very  affectionately  on 
the  impropriety  of  his  conduct,  and  he  said  he 
thought  I  was  a  *  Methodist  parson.'    I  told 


58  PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 

him  I  was,  and,  therefore,  1  had  taken  the  op- 
portunity of  preaching  to  him.  '  Sir,'  said  he, 
*  If  I  knew  where  you  preached  I  would  come 
and  hear  you,'  and  bound  it  with  an  oath.  I 
told  him  where  I  hoped  to  preach  the  follow- 
ing day  ;  and  the  first  person  I  saw  when  I 
entered  the  chapel  was  my  old  fellow-traveller, 
sitting  in  the  minister's  pew.  His  conduct 
during  the  service  was  worthy  of  imitation.  I 
I  was  asked  by  some  after  service  if  I  knew 
that  stranger  ;  they  thought  he  was  a  very 
pious  man,  by  his  marked  attention  to  every 
part  of  the  service.  He  went  out,  and  I  saw 
him  no  more." 

Writing  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Spencer,  of  Bide- 
ford,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1815,  he  says — "  We 
have  lately  commenced  street-preaching.  I 
was  not  first  on  the  field  ;  but  on  the  second 
Sabbath,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  lot  having  fallen 
on  me,  I  ascended  the  market-house  steps,  the 
first  time,  I  presume,  that  ever  they  had  been 
used  for  preaching  the  glorious  gospel  from. 
The  market-house  adjoins  the  beach.  The 
congregation  consisted  chiefly  of  those  who 
never  attend  a  place  of  worship.    I  am  sure 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


59 


you  would  have  rejoiced  to  have  seen  it.  When 
we  began  to  sing,  the  persons  who  were  buy- 
ing meat  left  the  standings  ;  the  butchers, 
having  no  customers,  left  their  business,  and 
stood  around  us  with  their  '  steels '  in  their 
hands.  The  porters  and  watermen  drew  near, 
and  the  sailors,  with  their  immoral  associates, 
left  the  brothels.  The  windows  of  the  sur- 
rounding houses  were  opened,  and  from  150  to 
200  were  listening  or  looking.  The  sight  of 
a  crowd  of  such  characters  was  enough  to 
melt  a  rock  of  ice.  I  preached  for  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  from  the  text — '  I  have  a 
message  from  God  unto  thee.'  Mr.  Slater  had 
concluded  by  a  short  prayer,  when  two  sailors 
were  seen  pressing  through  the  crowd.  We 
knew  not  their  intention,  but  we  had  no  fear 
of  sailors.  One  of  them  said  to  Mr.  Slater — 
'  Will  you  write  a  letter  for  me  to  my  father  ? 
I  fear  I  am  breaking  his  heart.'  The  other 
came  to  me,  and  said — '  You  have  been  speak- 
ing a  long  time,  sir,  I  am  sure  you  must  be 
thirsty  ;  do  take  this  three-shilling  bit,  and 
get  something  to  drink.'  '  Thank  you,  brave 
fellow,'  I  replied,  '  we  did  not  come  liere  to 


60 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUll. 


get  drink.'  '  No,  no/  said  he  ;  'I  know  what 
you  came  here  for — it  was  to  do  us  good  ;  but 
you  must  have  the  three-shilling  bit.'    I  said, 

*  Have  you  a  Bible  ?'  *  No,'  was  his  reply. 
'  Have  you  one  in  your  mess  ?'  '  I  never  saw 
one,'  said  he.  '  Well,  then,'  I  added,  '  come 
with  us,  and  I  will  give  you  a  Bible  for  your 
money.'    He  turned  to  his  shipmate  and  said, 

*  Let  us  go  with  these  gentlemen.'  We  took 
them  to  our  lodgings,  and  gave  the  young 
man  the  Bible.  He  viewed  it  on  all  sides, 
and  then  opening  his  breast-pocket,  pushed  it 
in  and  exclaimed,  '  There,  sir,  I  will  part  with 
that  book  on  the  day  I  part  with  my  head.' " 

On  the  2d  June,  1815,  he  sends  to  a  corres- 
pondent the  following  important  piece  of  in- 
telligence : — "  My  destination  is  now  fixed. 
My  future  scene  of  labour  is  before  me.  In- 
dia's burning  shores  lie  open  to  my  view  ;  but 
God  is  there,  and  cheerfully  I  will  go,  if  the 
Lord  permit.  Never  did  I  see  it  a  greater 
privilege  to  be  a  disciple  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  nor  did  I  ever  see  more  of  the  neces- 
sity and  importance  of  an  interest  in  His 
merits.    Bought  with  His  blood,  called  by 


PUTTING  ON  THE  AEMOUR. 


01 


His  grace,  sanctified  by  His  Spirit,  aDcl  up- 
held  by  His  power,  oh,  how  precious ! 

"  Hitherto  the  lines  have  fallen  to  me  in 
pleasant  places,  and  still  goodness  and  mercy 
follow  me.  The  station  allotted  me  is  pecu- 
liarly pleasing  for  several  reasons.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Loveless,  who  have  been  there  some 
years,  are  very  excellent  persons.  Mr.  Bogue 
speaks  of  Mr.  Loveless  in  the  highest  terms. 
AVhen  he  was  at  the  Academy,  his  amiable 
manner,  the  meekness  of  his  disposition,  and 
his  eminent  piety,  gained  him  the  esteem  of 
all.  I  shall  be  under  the  protection  of  tlie 
British  Government,  and  have  many  of  my 
countrymen  around  me  ;  and  what  is  best  of 
all,  I  shall  not  be  prevented  from  preaching 
the  gospel  while  learning  the  language  of  the 
natives,  which  must  be  the  case  in  many  places. 
The  students  say  that  mine  is  certainly  the 
best  station  :  may  I  be  more  grateful  and 
labour  more  abundantly  than  they  all 

"  In  the  month  of  September,  1815,''  it  is  said 
in  the  reminiscences,  "  when  I  had  been  just 
one  year  at  Dr.  Bogue's,  he  beckoned  to  me 
one  day  after  lecture  to  remain.  When  the 
6 


62 


PUTTIXU  OX  THE  ARMOUR. 


students  were  gone,  he  said — '  I  have  received 
a  letter  from  London,  which,  I  think,  will  in- 
terest you.  Last  year  an  Auxiliary  Mission- 
ary Society  was  formed  at  Leeds,  for  the  West 
Riding  of  Yorkshire.  It  will  be  one  of  our 
chief  supports.  The  secretary  has  written-  to 
Mr.  Burder,  saying,  "  We  have  never  seen  a 
missionary  at  Leeds,  and  our  large  population 
needs  something  out  of  the  common  way  to 
keep  up  and  increase  our  missionary  spirit. 
In  October  is  our  first  annual  meeting,  and  if 
you  have  a  missionary  about  to  leave,  we  wish 
him  to  be  ordained  at  Leeds.''  '  Now,  sir,' 
said  the  Doctor,  '  you  are  one  of  the  first  who 
will  leave,  and  I  wish  you  to  go.  AYhat  do 
you  say  to  it  ?'  I  felt  disappointed,  and  re- 
plied— '  My  old  pastor  and  his  people  wish  me 

to  be  ordained  at  Bideford,  and '  '  and,' 

said  the  Doctor,  '  you  would  naturally  like  to 
go  ;  but  you  are  public  property  now.  You 
must  live  for  the  whole  world.  We  must 
sacrifice  personal  feeling  if  we  wish  to  be 
extensively  useful.  Remember  there  are  80,000 
people  at  Leeds.  Take  two  days  to  consider 
it.'    On  arriving  at  my  lodgings,  the  students 


PUTTING  OX  THE  ARMOUR. 


63 


wished  to  know  why  I  had  been  detained.  I 
told  them,  and  asked  their  advice.  They  all 
said,  '  Go  to  Leeds,'  and  I  went." 

The  narrative  is  continued  in  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Tucker,  on  the  2d  of  October  : — 

"  On  Friday  evening  I  reached  the  destined 
spot,  after  travelling  nearly  300  miles,  without 
the  least  injury.  Surely  journeying  mercies 
are  not  amongst  our  smallest  blessings  ;  for 
though  there  is  no  fiery,  cloudy  pillar  to  di- 
rect, yet  a  providential  Hand  is  visible  in 
protecting  amidst  so  many  accidents  and  dan- 
gers. On  entering  the  town,  I  was  beginning 
to  fear  what  would  become  of  me  ;  but  when 
the  coach  stopped,  a  man  looked  in  at  the  win- 
dow and  said,  '  Is  there  a  gentleman  here  of 
the  name  of  Knill  ?'  I  said,  '  Yes.'  '  Then 
you  must  go  with  me,'  said  he.  '  Pray  sir,' 
said  I,  '  who  are  you  ?'  '  1  am  Joseph,  at  Mr. 
Clapham's.'  Now,  it  happened  that  this  good 
old  faithful  servant  was  nearly  as  well  known 
in  Leeds  as  St.  Paul's  Church  in  London. 
Joseph  conducted  me  to  the  hospitable  mansion 
of  his  master,  where  I  spent  a  fortnight,  which 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  me  nor  by  them. 


64 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


On  the  Sabbath  I  preached  three  times,  and 
on  Monday  gave  the  address  to  the  united  con- 
gregations, at  their  missionary  prayer-meeting. 
On  such  occasions,  the  Independents  and  the 
Baptists  meet  together.  Our  meeting  was  in  a 
Baptist  chapel.  Bigotry  will  soon  be  a  name 
unknown  in  Leeds,  I  hope  ;  for  all  parties 
seem  united  to  promote  the  glorious  cause  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  was  introduced  to 
three  evangelical  clergymen,  and  I  was  in- 
formed that  the  pure  gospel  is  preached  in  two 
or  three  of  tlie  churches.  Thursday  the  branch 
missionary  society  meeting  commenced.  Mr. 
Leifchild,  of  London,  preached  one  of  the  ser- 
mons on  the  occasion,  and  the  Evangelical 
Magazine  will  inform  you  who  preached  the 
other.  In  the  evening,  the  meeting  for  busi- 
ness was  held  at  Salem  Chapel,  which  is  by  far 
the  largest.  If  you  had  been  there,  sir,  I  am 
certain  your  heart  would  have  leaped  for  joy, 
you  would  have  been  ready  to  exclaim,  '  Bless- . 
ed  are  our  eyes,  for  they  see,  and  our  ears,  for 
they  hear,  those  glorious  things  which  kings 
and  prophets  waited  for,  and  never  found.' 
The  large  place  was  well  filled,  the  speeches 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR.  G5 

were  animating,  and  the  collection  good.  The 
next  day  was  appointed  for  ray  ordination. 
Ah,  sir,  this  is  important  work ;  never  did  I 
feel  more  forcibly  that  remarkable  saying  of 
the  apostle,  'Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?' 
I  was  almost  overwhelmed  :  my  departure,  my 
work,  my  death  and  judgment,  were  presented 
to  my  view,  and  scarcely  any  one  present  did 
not  deeply  feel  it.  The  Lord,  T  trust,  was  in 
the  midst  of  us  ;  all  was  solemn,  a  spirit  of 
prayer  was  evidently  poured  out,  and  scarcely 
an  eye  was  seen  but  in  it  stood  a  tear.  This 
solemn  day  was  closed  with  the  commemora- 
tion of  the  dying  love  of  Christ  by  Christians 
of  all  denominations,  who  were  admitted  by 
tickets.  On  the  Sabbath  day  I  preached  three 
times  again — once  for  the  Baptists,  and  twice 
among  the  Independents  ;  in  the  evening,  to 
the  teachers  and  scholars  of  the  various  Sun- 
day-schools, including  also  an  Arian  school. 
This  was  an  interestino:  si2:ht.  After  the  ser- 
vice,  a  deputation,  consisting  of  five  of  the 
biggest  of  each  sex,  was  sent  me  to  return  me 
thanks.  When  I  spoke  to  them,  the  dear  little 
creatures  burst  into  tears,  and  I  must  have 
6*  5 


66  PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


been  a  stoic  if  I  had  not  mingled  my  tears 
with  theirs. 

"  On  Monday,  a  missionary  meeting  was 
held  at  a  village  called  Morley,  three  miles 
from  Leeds.  I  walked  '  among  the  tombs ' 
of  the  pious  dead.  Some  of  the  dear  minis- 
ters of  Christ  sleep  here  who  were  ejected 
from  their  livings  for  conscience'  sake.  I 
witnessed  the  funeral  of  a  young  man  just  of 
my  own  age  ;  and  while  I  saw  his  parents 
weeping  over  their  departed  son,  I  could  not 
lielp  saying  to  myself,  '  No  parent  may  be  near 
to  weep  when  I  am  numbered  with  the  dead.' 
Yet  this  did  not  divert  me  from  the  great 
work,  but  rather  roused  me  to  feel  more  ten- 
derly for  tliose  poor  souls  who  are  dying 
without  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  and  made 
me  long  more  earnestly  to  be  among  them  to 
do  all  in  my  power  while  my  life  lasts. 
Before  the  meeting  for  business  commenced,  I 
preached  a  short  sermon  to  a  chapelful,  and 
as  many  as  could  hear  outside,  for  numbers 
stood  at  the  doors  and  windows.  The  inhab- 
itants of  this  village  gave  £40  last  year  to 
the  society,  and  this  year  is  expected  greatly 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR.  67 

to  exceed  the  last.  On  Tuesday  I  preached 
again  at  Leeds,  in  a  place  where  there  is  no 
regular  pastor  ;  it  lies  in  a  part  of  the  town 
which  is  not  very  elegant,  but  several  hundreds 
attended. 

"  On  Wednesday  last  my  public  services 
ended.  I  preached  my  farewell  from  'Who 
am  I,  0  Lord  God,'  &c.  I  believe  there  was 
never  such  a  scene  witnessed  in  Leeds  before  ; 
it  is  not  in  my  power  to  describe  it.  After 
the  service  was  over,  the  people  would  not 
depart'  till  they  had  shaken  me  by  the  hand, 
and  those  who  could  not  come  to  me  by  one 
door  went  round  and  came  in  by  the  other. 

"  On  the  Thursday  evening,  the  ministers 
and  people  held  a  special  prayer-meeting  to 
commend  me  to  God,  and  implore  a  blessing 
on  my  future  labours.  The  Rev.  Messrs. 
Eccles,  Scott,  Turner,  and  Payne,  took  part, 
and  appeared  to  have  their  minds  sweetly 
engaged.  The  place  resembled  a  '  Bochim.' 
No  one  could  have  persuaded  me  that  I  should 
have  met  with  so  much  kindness ;  though  a  total 
stranger  a  fortnight  before,  yet  then  I  felt 
myself  surrounded  by  mothers,  and  brothers, 


68  PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 

and  sisters.  The  services  were  concluded  by 
singing  that  delightful  hymn, — 

Blest  be  the  dear  uniting  Love  1' 

Now  a  solemn  silence  pervaded  the  whole 
assembly.  Each  kept  his  seat,  when  one  of 
the  ministers  said  to  me,  'They  will  not  depart 
till  they  have  taken  their  last  farewell  of  you.' 
I  arose  and  went  to  the  seat  door,  and  imme- 
diately they  hastened  to  it,  when  I  parted 
with  them  to  meet  no  more  till  we  meet  around 
the  throne  of  God.    Solemn  thought ! 

"  On  Friday  I  took  my  departure,  accom- 
panied by  several  to  the  coach,  almost  worn 
out  with  fatigue  and  anxiety,  bringing  with  me 
many  proofs  of  kindness,  and  assured  that  I 
shall  never  be  forgotten  by  them  in  the  most 
important  sense.  The  collections  were  XI 30  ; 
and  in  the  town  of  Leeds  no  less  than  £500 
have  been  collected  during  the  past  year  for 
the  Missionary  Society.  My  soul  was  much 
refreshed  with  what  I  saw  and  heard,  and  my 
heart  is  cheered  with  the  thought  that  many 
precious  souls  are  praying  for  me  at  Leeds,  in 
addition  to  those  who  bear  me  upon  their 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR.  69 

hearts  before  the  Lord  at  Bideford.  In  the 
multitude  of  God's  tender  mercies,  I  am 
brought  back  to  Gosport  in  peace,  where  I 
hope  to  enjoy  my  former  privileges  for  a  little 
season — how  long,  I  know  not.  I  anticipate 
the  time  when  I  shall  once  more  behold  my 
dear  friends  at  Bideford,  and  pray  that  when 
we  meet  and  when  we  part,  it  may  be  in  the 
fear  of  God.  Hoping  that  this  may  meet 
you  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  those  blessings 
which  make  rich  and  add  no  sorrow,  I  re- 
main," <fec. 

The  intense  interest  attending  these  services 
did  not  arise  exclusively  from  the  comparative 
novelty  of  the  missionary  enterprise,  and  the 
prepossessing  aspect  and  character  of  the 
youthful  missionary  ;  it  appears,  from  perma- 
nent results,  to  have  been  in  large  measure  the 
fruit  of  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
One  of  the  ministers  who  took  part  in  the  ser- 
vices, writing  twenty  years  afterwards,  says 
that  great  effects  were  produced  in  different 
congregations,  and  that  many  persons  were 
added  to  the  cliurches,  who  continued  to  adorn 
their  profession  :  while  a  general  impulse  was 


70  PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 

given  to  the  zeal  of  Christians.  It  may  not 
be  improper,  in  illustrating  the  strength  of  this 
feeling,  to  give  a  glimpse  of  the  interior  of  an 
honoured  Christian  family,  by  the  following 
note  from  Mrs.  Parsons  to  Mr.  Knill  : — 

"  When  I  told  you,  that  at  the  little  prayer- 
meeting  which  I  hold  on  the  Sabbath  evening 
from  six  to  seven  with  my  children,  your  name 
should  be  mentioned  with  that  of  my  dear 
father,  with  my  soul  I  made  the  vow,  and  it  has 
been  rigidly  adhered  to,  and  shall  be  while  you 
or  I  live.  Blessed  be  God,  I  can  truly  say  I 
have  had  sweet  communion  in  so  doing,  and 
often  a  blessed  foretaste  of  the  enjoyment  of 
heaven.  After  prayer,  my  dear  children  often 
ask  me  about  you,  and  tell  me  how  they  love 
to  pray  for  you.  Do  so  for  them,  and  en- 
deavour to  meet  us.  Never,  my  dear  sir,  for  a 
moment,  suppose  you  will  be  forgotten  here  ; 
many,  I  trust,  will  have  cause  to  bless  God 
that  you  were  sent.  Already  we  have  heard 
of  three  who  date  from  that  time  their  serious 
impressions — one  has  proposed  himself,  and 
talks  of  following  your  example  in  becoming  a 
missionary.    Who  knows  but  more  may  come 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUE.  71 

forward  ?  When  you  are  on  the  great  deep, 
and  far  hence  among  the  Gentiles,  you  will  be 
present  in  the  hearts  of  many  here  ;  allow  me 
to  say,  by  none  more  sincerely  or  affectionately 
than  by  those  in  this  house.  You  will,  I  am 
sure,  be  pleased  to  know  that  all  things  here 
with  us  go  on  well.  My  dear  husband  is 
highly  honoured  in  his  increasing  church. 
We  have  few  cliurch-meetings  without  several 
being  united  to  us.  Another  of  my  sons  is 
truly  serious,  and  of  the  others  I  have  great 
hopes.  I  do  hope  they  will  all  become 
preachers  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  win 
souls  to  Christ.  This  is  all  my  prayer  for 
them." 

One  result  of  that  visit  was  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  Mr.  Knill  thirty-three  years 
afterwards,  in  a  singular  manner.  When  at- 
tending a  public  meeting  at  Ludlow,  in  1849, 
one  of  the  speakers,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Tillot- 
son,  a  superintendent  preacher  in  one  of  the 
branches  of  Wesleyanism,  introduced  into  his 
speech  the  following  account  of  his  conver- 
sion : — ' '  A  great  feeling  of  delight  had  been 
produced  in  my  native  town  by  a  missionary 


72 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


being  ordained  there.  I  was  a  stout  lad,  and 
a  bold  blasphemer.  One  of  my  uncles  was  a 
godly  man,  a  deacon  of  Mr.  Eccles'  church. 
He  said  to  me,  '  Samuel,  there  is  a  young  man 
in  town  who  is  going  abroad  to  preach  to  the 
black  people,  and  he  is  to  take  leave  this 
evening  by  preaching  to  the  young  ;  thou  must 
go,  lad.'  The  chapel  was  very  much  crowded  ; 
but  being  a  strong  fellow,  I  pushed  my  way, 
and  got  where  I  thought  I  should  have  a  full 
view  of  him.  We  were  all  expectation.  At 
last  he  made  his  way  to  the  pulpit  stairs.  I 
watched  him  up  into  the  pulpit.  He  was  a 
tall,  thin,  pale  young  man.  I  thought,  '  Is  he 
going  to  the  heathen  ?  Then  I  shall  never  see 
him  more  ;  I  will  listen.'  He  read  and  prayed, 
and  then  gave  out  his  text — '  There  is  a  lad 
here.'  There  God  met  with  my  soul ;  I  yielded 
myself  unto  Him.  Next  Sunday  morning,  I 
went  to  a  Sunday-school,  and  asked  if  they 
would  have  me  for  a  teacher  ;  They  complied, 
and  I  soon  began  to  pray  in  the  school.  Then 
I  set  up  prayer  in  my  father's  family  ;  next 
they  made  me  an  exhorter,  and  God  blessed 
me  to  the  conversion  of  my  own  father  and 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR.  73 

brother.  I  have  now  been  a  regular  preacher 
in  our  body  for  thirty  years,  and  God  has 
smiled  on  my  labours.  I  owe  it  all  to  that 
sermon.  I  have  never  seen  the  preacher  since, 
and,  perhaps,  I  may  never  see  him  ;  but  I  shall 
have  a  glorious  tale  to  tell  him  when  we  meet 
in  heaven.'' 

"  Little  did  Samuel  Tillotson  think,"  said 
Mr.  Knill,  in  afterwards  referring  to  this  inci- 
dent, "  that  the  once  tall,  pale,  thin  young  man 
was  sitting  near  while  he  was  giving  that  nar- 
ration. Time  had  greatly  changed  my  appear- 
ance. He  had  never  seen  me  but  on  that  occa- 
sion ;  and  when  I  introduced  myself  to  him  in 
the  midst  of  the  meeting,  the  shock  was  elec- 
trical. How  strange,  that,  so  far  away  from 
the  original  scene,  and  after  both  of  us  had 
been  wandering  and  labouring  for  so  many 
years,  we  should  so  providentially  meet!  It 
has  often  struck  me  since,  that  ministers  may 
expect  strange  greetings  in  heaven,  from  those 
whom  they  never  saw  on  earth,  but  who  have 
received  good  from  their  labours." 

Mr.  Knill  returned  from  Leeds  to  Gosport, 
where  he  enjoyed,  for  four  months  longer,  the 
7 


74 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


instructions  of  Dr.  Bogue.  Having  received 
ordination,  he  found  some  new  services  de- 
manded of  him."^'  "The  first,"  he  says,  "was 
to  baptize  a  little  girl  who  was  supposed  to.be 
near  death.  I  at  first  refused,  but  afterwards 
applied  to  the  tutor  for  advice.  'The  dying 
child,'  said  the  Doctor,  'will  neither  be  better 
nor  worse  for  it,  but  you  may  be  a  blessing  to 
the  distressed  parents;  go,  sir,  and  may  the 
Divine  blessing  accompany  you.'  On  entering 
the  house,  we  found  the  father  walking  up  and 
down  the  room,  wringing  his  hands,  weeping, 
and  saying,  *  Oh,  she  will  die ;  God  is  punish- 
ing me  for  my  sins.'  Then  looking  at  us,  he 
said,  '  Are  you  come  to  baptize  her  ?'  '  Yes, 
sir,  sit  down ;  compose  your  mind,  and  let  us 
talk  together.'  The  mother  was  sitting  with 
the  child  on  her  lap,  intently  looking  on  it,  but 
she  never  said  a  word.  I  began  to  encourage 
him  with  the  hope  that  God  would  hear  our 
prayers  and  spare  his  child,  and  then  gave  him 
good  advice  how  he  was  to  train  her  for  God. 
'  Especially,'  said  I,  '  let  her  hear  your  voice  in 
prayer.'  '  Stop,'  said  he, '  stop,  sir  ;  you  do  not 
know  who  I  am.'    'No,  sir,'  said  I;  'but  I 

*  The  American  Tract  Society,  in  issuing  this  work  entire, 
express  no  opinion  as  to  the  mode  or  subjects  of  13aptism. 


PUTTING  OX  THE  ARMOUR. 


75 


should  be  happy  to  learn.'  '  We  were  botli/ 
he  answered,  '  members  of  a  church  at  Eyde. 
I  led  the  singing,  and  conducted  the  prayer- 
meetings,  and  was  a  great  professor.  My  wife 
would  never  have  consented  to  have  me,  if  she 
had  not  thought  me  a  religious  man.  Our 
grocery  business  was  not  large,  still  we  could 
live  comfortably.  But  a  fair  prospect  offered 
here  ;  we  took  this  house  and  business,  and  this 
was  our  snare.  When  we  first  came,  we  always 
closed  our  shop  on  Saturday  night,  not  to  open 
it  again  till  Monday.  But  our  neighbours  did 
much  business  on  tfie  Sunday  ;  and  if  a  ship 
came  into  harbour,  and  wanted  supplies,  per- 
haps they  got  more  on  Sunday  than  on  any  day 
of  the  week.  This  was  a  great  temptation  to 
us  to  do  the  same  ; — we  tried  it.  First  we 
opened  the  shop  so  as  to  have  business  over  in 
time  to  go  to  chapel,  next  it  encroached  so  that 
we  could  only  go  out  in  the  evening,  and  then 
our  consciences  became  so  callous,  that  we  left 
it  off  altogether  ;  and  now,  sir,  God  is  going  to 
take  away  our  child  to  punish  us.'  '  Well,'  I 
said,  '  learn  wisdom  by  this  stroke  ;  repent,  and 
do  thy  first  works.    Begin  from  this  day  ;  call 


76 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


in  your  young  men,  and  have  family  prayer.' 
'  I  cannot.'  '  Cannot !'  I  exclaimed  ;  '  why  V 
'  Oh/  said  he,  '  they  know  how  I  used  to  live.' 

*  Well,  if  you  were  not  ashamed  to  serve  the 
devil  in  their  presence,  don't  be  ashamed  to  tell 
them  you  have  changed  masters.  Tell  them 
honestly  the  whole  story,  and  let  them  see  your 
sincerity  by  the  change  of  your  deportment.' 
We  then  went  to  prayer,  and  I  baptized  >S'o- 
plironia,  and  took  leave.  A  few  days  after,  I 
called  at  the  shop  to  inquire  for  tlie  master. 
The  servant  said, '  He  is  up  stairs.'  '  How  is 
the  child  ?'  *  She  is  recovering,'  said  the  ser- 
vant ;  '  she  began  to  get  better  after  you  left.' 

*  Call  your  master,'  said  I.  The  girl  went  to 
the  nursery  to  call  him ;  and  while  she  was 
absent,  I  looked  round  and  saw  some  Bibles 
and  hymn-books  on  a  table.  On  her  return,  I 
said,  *  What  are  all  these  books  placed  here 
for  ?'  '  Oh,'  said  she,  '  they  are  books  which 
master  uses  at  family  prayer.'  So  he  had 
begun. 

"  In  a  visit  which  my  family  paid  to  the  Isle 
of  Wight  in  1836,  they  went  into  a  shop,  and  a 
young  person  serving  in  the  shop  said  to  my 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR.  77 

son,  •  Your  father  baptized  me.'  '  Indeed/  said 
he  ;  '  when  and  wliere  V  '  At  Gosport,  when 
he  was  a  student.  Please  to  tell  your  father 
that  my  father  became  an  honourable  member 
of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  my  mother  died 
happy  in  the  Lord.  But  before  they  died,  they 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  me  also  on  the  Lord's 
side.  Your  father's  advice  and  prayers  were 
not  lost.    Please  to  tell  him  this  from  Sophro- 

In  the  month  of  February,  1816,  the  time  of 
embarkation  for  the  East  being  now  at  hand, 
Mr.  Knill  went  to  Devonshire,  to  take  farewell 
of  his  parents  and  early  friends,  bearing  with 
him  a  letter  from  Dr.  Bogue  to  Rev.  S.  Hooker, 
containing  the  following  passages  : — "  I  send 
this  note  by  Mr.  Knill,  to  express  my  best 
wishes  for  your  prosperity  and  success,  and  to 
congratulate  you  on  having  sent  forth  such  a 
young  man  into  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  I 
never  had  a  student  with  me  who  gave  me 
more  satisfaction.  His  talents  are  good,  his 
piety  eminent,  his  application  to  study  assid- 
uous, and  his  zeal  for  the  advancement  of  the 
Redeemer's  glory  fervent  and  exemplary.  He 
7^ 


78 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR. 


carries  away  with  him  the  esteem  and  affection 
of  his  tutor  and  fellow-students,  and  of  the 
Christian  people  here. 

"  Last  Thursday  evening*  he  repeated  the 
chief  part  of  his  ordination  service,  greatly  to 
the  edification  of  the  audience.  I  asked  the 
questions  ;  and  concluded  with  an  exhortation 
to  the  people,  and  prayer.  I  think,  sir,  if  you 
were  to  have  this  service  in  your  congregation, 
and  also  in  the  principal  congregations  in  the 
West,  it  would  be  both  acceptable  and  useful 
10  the  people." 

This  suggestion  was  readily  acted  on  by  Mr. 
Rooker  ;  and  a  series  of  services  took  place, 
accompanied  by  a  remarkable  blessing.  The 
ordination  of  a  missionary  was  an  event  even 
more  rare  in  those  parts  than  in  Yorkshire  ; 
while  the  circumstance  that  the  individual  had 
sprung  from  themselves,  added  greatly  both 
to  his  own  interest  and  to  theirs.  Bideford, 
Barnstaple,  South  Molton,  Axminster,  and 
Wellingborough  opened  their  arms  to  him,  and 
parted  from  him  with  tears  and  prayers.  At 
one  place,  an  aged  disciple,  who  had  for  years 
been  confined  to  bed,  on  hearing  what  was  to 


PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOUR.  7C 


occur,  seemed  to  regain  his  youthful  vigour, 
and  begged  to  be  carried  to  the  chapel ;  say- 
ing, that  having  prayed  in  secret  for  the 
heathen,  he  must,  before  he  died,  see  one  who 
was  going  to  point  them  to  tlie  Lamb  of  God. 
His  wish  was  complied  witli.  He  remained 
during  the  whole  service,  and  soon  afterwards 
departed  to  glory.  At  another  place,  his  ap- 
peal reached  the  heart  of  a  young  man,  with 
such  power  from  on  high,  that  sleep  departed 
from  him  until  he  was  brought  to  a  resolution 
to  surrender  himself  to  Christ's  service  among 
the  heathen.  He  has  for  many  years  been  a 
blessing  to  the  South  Sea  Islands.  The  name 
of  Aaron  Buzacott  is  well  known  to  the  readers 
of  the  Christian  history  of  those  islands. 

"  Services  like  these,  amidst  weeping  friends 
and  early  associations,  and  hallowed  by  tokens 
of  God's  saving  favour,"  Mr.  Knill  naturally 
remarks,  "  were  very  trying  to  my  feelings.  I 
used  to  think  sometimes  that  I  could  weep  no 
more — that  the  fountain  of  tears  must  be  ex- 
hausted. But  it  was  also  very  pleasant  to  be 
taken  by  the  hand  by  the  excellent  of  the 
earth,  and  to  have  a  precious  promise  that  they 


80 


PUTTING  OX  THE  ARMOUR. 


would  pray  for  me,  and  teach  tlieir  cliildren  to 
pray  for  me.  These  were  favours  which  I 
could  not  have  anticipated,  and  may  well  lead 
me  to  sing — 

'  Oh,  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor 

Daily  I'm  constrain'd  to  be ; 
Let  that  grace,  Lord,  hke  a  fetter. 
Bind  my  -vrandering  heart  to  Thee  1' 

Amidst  these  parting  scenes,  there  was  one 
more  tender  than  the  rest.  I  must  not  omit 
that.  It  was  parting  with  my  beloved  and 
honoured  parents,  but  especially  with  my 
sainted  mother.  She  took  off  her  wedding- 
ring  in  the  presence  of  my  father,  and  said, 
*  This  is  the  dearest  thing  I  possess.  It  was 
given  to  me  by  your  dear  father,  as  a  pledge 
of  his  love,  on  our  wedding-day.  I  have  worn 
it  more  than  forty  years,  and  now  in  the  ex- 
pectation that  I  shall  never  see  you  again  in  this 
world,  I  give  it  to  you.  Your  father  gave  it  to 
me  as  a  pledge  of  his  love,  and  in  his  presence 
I  give  it  as  a  token  of  our  united  love  to  you.^ 
Description  fails  here.  Tender  parents  alone 
can  understand  it.  In  addition  to  the  ring, 
there  was  a  silver  cup  which  my  grandfather 


PUTTING  OX  THE  ARMOUR. 


81 


presented  my  mother,  I  believe  on  lier  wed- 
ding-day. This  also  she  gave  to  me.  The 
ring  I  keep  as  a  sacred  relic.  The  cup  I  gave 
to  the  skilful  and  attentive  Dr.  Lloyd,  who  at- 
tended me  five  months  during  the  voyage  from 
India  to  the  Thames. 

"  When  I  had  taken  leave  of  my  dearest 
friends,  I  repaired  to  London,  to  wait  for  the 
sailing  of  the  ship.  My  residence  in  London 
was  always  with  Mr.  Nisbet,  bookseller.  He 
and  his  family  were  warm  and  affectionate 
friends  of  missionaries.  Three  or  four  of  us 
have  been  at  his  house  at  once.  He  greatly 
assisted  us  in  preparing  for  our  embarkation, 
and  I  have  always  found  a  home  at  his  house 
since.  His  friendships  have  not  been  over- 
looked by  the  Master.  As  it  was  with  Obed- 
edom,  so  it  has  been  with  Mr.  Nisbet.  '  The 
Lord  blessed  the  house  of  Obed-edom,  because 
of  the  ark.'  " 


6 


CHAPTER  IV. 

\t  first  Campign. 


"  God  doth  not  need 
Either  man's  works  or  His  own  gifts ;  who  best 
Bear  His  mild  yoke,  they  serve  Him  best." 

MiLTON". 


(83) 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN". 


The  Eayi  of  3foira,  commanded  by  Captain 
Kemp,  sailed  from  Deal  on  20th  April,  1816, 
with  a  large  and  interesting  force  of  mission- 
aries for  the  East.  It  included  Messrs.  Hough 
and  Winter,  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  ; 
Mr.  Randall,  of  the  Baptist  Missionary  So- 
ciety ;  Messrs.  Townley  and  Keith  for  Calcut- 
ta, Messrs.  Meade  and  Reader  for  Travancore, 
Mr.  Reeve  for  Bellary,  and  Mr.  Knill  for  Ma- 
dras, of  the  London  Missionary  Society.  All 
these  brethren,  with  one  exception,  were  ac- 
companied by  their  wives  :  Mr.  Knill  was  un- 
married, having  met  with  a  disappointment, 
which,  considering  his  affectionate  nature,  he 
bore  heroically. 

"  My  dear,  faithful,  and  affectionate  pastor,'^ 
ran  a  few  lines  to  Mr.  Rooker,  at  the  moment 
of  embarkation,  "  I  cannot  let  Britain  go  till  I 
have  blessed  God  for  you,  and  once  more 
8 


86 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


thanked  you  for  your  affection  and  kind- 
ness. The  Lord  reward  you  and  yours  a 
thousandfold. 

*'  My  hand  trembles,  but  my  heart  rejoices 
in  the  prospect  of  taking  a  long  farewell  of 
Britain,  and  her  highly -favoured  children.  In 
case  the  depths  of  the  sea  should  provide  me  a 
grave,  or  some  fatal  disease  put  a  speedy  ter- 
mination to  my  life,  accept  this  as  my  last  trib- 
ute of  grateful  remembrance  ;  but  if  the  Great 
Head  of  the  Church,  in  His  infinite  kindness, 
spare  my  life  to  reach  Madras  in  peace,  be  as- 
sured that  soon  you  shall  hear  from  your  af- 
fectionate and  obedient — Richard  Kxill."' 

The  external  circumstances  of  ship  and 
weather  conspired,  with  the  delights  of  intel- 
ligent Christian  fellowship,  to  make  the  voy- 
age most  auspicious. 

Our  privileges,"  it  is  said  in  the  remini- 
scences, were  greatly  owing  to  the  pious  feel- 
ing of  the  captain.  TThen  he  was  an  ofiicer  in 
an  East  Indiaman,  a  gay  and  thoughtless 
young  man,  he  went  asliore  one  Sunday  at 
Calcutta,  and  seeing  some  English  people 
enter  a  house  which  had  the  appearance  of  a 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


87 


chapel,  he  followed  them,  and  heard  Dr.  Carey 
preach.  The  sermon  was  blessed  to  the  con- 
version of  his  soul,  and  the  swearing  youth  re- 
turned to  England  a  man  of  prayer.  On  his 
passage  home  he  made  a  solemn  vow,  that  if  ever 
providence  gave  him  the  command  of  a  ship, 
and  a  missionary  were  going  to  Dr.  Carey,  he 
would  give  him  a  free  passage.  We  had  the 
result  of  this  daily  before  our  eyes  ;  on  a  for- 
mer occasion  he  had  taken  out  Dr.  Yates, 
and  now  he  was  taking  Mr.  Randall  and  his 
family. 

"  When  we  had  become  accustomed  to  the 
motion  of  the  sliip,  and  had  braced  up  our 
minds  for  action,  this  good  man  said,  '  Now, 
let  us  turn  this  ship  into  a  Bethel ;  let  us  have 
family  prayer  every  day,  and  sermons  on  Sun- 
day ;  it  will  sweeten  the  voyage,  endear  us 
to  one  another,  and  draw  down  the  Divine 
blessing.' " 

How  this  plan  succeeded  is  told  in  a  letter 
to  Mrs.  Isaac,  dated  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
July  3,  1816  : — "  It  is  an  unspeakable  privi- 
lege to  sail  in  such  a  ship.  Though  removed 
from  friends  and  all  that  is  dear  at  home,  we 


88 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


can  hold  fellowsliip  with  saints  even  on  the 
bosom  of  the  Atlantic.  We  muster  no  fewer 
than  nine  chaplains,  "besides  the  captain,  who 
takes  his  part,  and  deservedly  has  our  praise. 

"  Each  chaplain  acts  for  the  day  in  alpha- 
betical order.  .  We  have  eight  preachers  ;  two 
sermons  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  one  on  Thurs- 
day— the  Lord's  Supper  on  the  first  Sunday, 
and  the  missionary  prayer-meeting  on  the  first 
Monday  of  the  month.  Think,  my  dear 
madam,  how  great  the  privilege  I  Surely  the 
ship  which,  after  a  twelvemonth's  voyage,  rest- 
ed on  the  mountains  of  Ararat,  could  not  vie 
with  ours. 

"  This  is  a  part — let  me  now  tell  you  of  the 
harmony  which  exists  among  us,  and  then  join 
with  David,  and  say, '  How  good  and  pleasant 
a  thing  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in 
unity  !'  Our  company  consists  of  clergymen, 
Baptists,  Independents,  and  one  Methodist ; 
but  we  live  like  brethren,  '  each  esteeming 
other  better  than  himself.'  The  tools  of  con- 
troversy have  been  thrown  overboard ;  we 
perceived  they  were  grown  rusty  and  out  of 
date  ;  we  saw  them  '  sink  as  lead  in  tlie  mighty 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


89 


waters/  and  they  are  now  where,  I  trust,  your 
sins  are — viz.,  '  in  the  depths  of  the  sea.'  I 
have  reason,  indeed,  to  hope  that  much  of  the 
?:  Divine  presence  has  been  experienced  on 
board.  That  blessed  Saviour  who  sanctified 
the  mountains  round  about  Jerusalem,  and 
sometimes  had  a  boat  for  His  pulpit,  has  hon- 
oured this  ship  with  His  love.  For  ray  own 
part,  I  have  never  felt  more  of  my  own  vile- 
ness  and  unworthiness  in  my  life  ;  for  here  is 
time  for  reflection — things  which  were  once 
forgotten  are  remembered,  and  at  times  death 
and  judgment  appear  just  at  hand.  On  the  1st 
June,  when  chaplain,  and  engaged  in  family 
prayer,  I  had  such  an  overwhelming  view  of 
myself  that  I  was  forced  to  stop  in  the  midst, 
and  give  way  to  a  flood  of  tears,  while  Mr. 
Meade  concluded  the  service ;  but  I  have  not 
always  been  cast  down. 

"  Shall  I  now  tell  you  how  we  have  been 
favoured  as  it  respects  the  w^eather  ?  We  left 
Deal,  under  the  most  pleasant  circumstances, 
on  the  20th  April.  On  the  23d  we  entered 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,  where  the  tremendous  swell 
which  generally  pervades  those  seas  affected 
8^- 


90 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


US  but  little.  On  the  last  day  of  the  month 
we  passed  the  isles  of  Madeira.  The  weather 
being  cloudy  we  saw  them  not,  but  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning  an  officer  perceived  them  at 
daybreak  about  sixty  knots  astern — the  weath- 
er being  still  so  delightful  that  we  thought  we 
might  have  sailed  in  the  long-boat  without 
danger.  At  dawn,  on  the  3d,  the  captain  dis- 
cerned one  of  the  Canary  Islands,  called 
Palma ;  we  all  hastened  on  deck,  glad  to  be- 
hold it,  and  gratifying  indeed  was  the  sight, 
being  the  first  land  we  had  seen  for  many  days. 
On  the  27th  we  crossed  the  line,  but  felt  noth- 
ing oppressive  in  the  heat,  though  there  was  an 
almost  perfect  calm,  which  reminds  one  of  the 
poet's  words — 

'  More  tlie  treacherous  calm  I  dread, 
Tlian  tempests  bursting  o'er  my  head.' 

"  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that,  after  a 
passage  of  sixty-eight  days,  and  sailing  eiglit 
thousand  miles,  we  landed  safely  at  Simon's  Bay, 
which  lies  about  twenty-one  miles  from  Cape 
Town.  It  happened  to  be  on  that  sacred  day 
when  the  tribes  go  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord. 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


91 


There  are  but  few  houses  at  that  place,  but 
they  are  exceedingly  white  and  clean.  There  is 
a  little  military  force,  a  pretty  little  church,  and 
a  nice  little  parson.  When  our  blessed  Re- 
deemer came  to  Jerusalem,  He  first  visited  the 
temple,  and  we  imitated  His  example  ;  the  bell 
was  ringing  when  we  came  on  shore,  and  we 
walked  immediately  to  the  church.  The  les- 
sons for  the  day  particularly  struck  me  ;  they 
were  1  Sam.  ii,  and  Luke  xv,  and  the  text  was, 
'  There  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that 
repenteth.'  We  afterwards  strolled  into  the 
burial-ground,  sat  among  the  tombs,  and  sang 
praises  to  God.  We  read  inscriptions  on  the 
tombs  of  our  countrymen  who  had  gone  thither 
to  die,  and  sought  to  imbibe  the  solemn  lesson." 

"  The  next  day,"  says  another  communica- 
tion, "  having  been  joined  by  our  dear  brother, 
Mr.  Thorn,  we  travelled  in  ox-wagons  to  Cape 
Town.  There  I  first  saw  a  congregation  of 
heathen,  composed  of  persons  from  seven  dif- 
ferent tribes  of  Africa ;  and,  having  spent  a 
most  refreshing  time,  during  which  great  kind- 
ness was  shown  to  us  by  the  Rev.  George 
Thom  and  his  congregation,  we  again  weighed 


92 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


anchor,  and,  after  a  favourable  run,  anchored  in 
Madras  Roads.  Thus  I  found  myself  in  my 
adopted  country,  surrounded  by  heathen  gods, 
heathen  temples,  and  lieathen  people." 

The  excellent  man  whom  Mr.  Knill  joined 
was  the  first  English  missionary  to  Madras, 
and  had  at  that  period  resided  there  for  eight 
years.  He  had  formed  a  church,  of  persons 
who  had  been  converted  through  his  ministry, 
and  had  been  of  great  service  in  the  establish- 
ment of  schools,  and  in  the  distribution  of 
Christian  books  throughout  the  presidency. 
His  wise  and  benevolent  measures  had  pro- 
duced a  considerable  impression  on  the  public 
mind  ;  so  that  Mr.  Knill  always  delighted  to 
observe,  "  He  laboured,  and  I  entered  into  his 
labours.'' 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loveless,"  he  says,  "  were 
among  the  best  people  I  ever  saw.  Their 
house  was  the  '  Saints'  Rest.'  Godly  men  of 
all  denominations  found  a  home  under  their 
peaceful  roof.  They  had  a  large  and  profit- 
able boarding-school,  which  enabled  them  to 
use  hospitality  to  strangers,  and  to  entertain 
angels  unawares.    Mr.  Loveless  received  no 


THE  FiRbT  Campaign. 


93 


salary  from  tlie  Missionary  Society,  but  was  a 
large  contributor  to  its  funds  by  preventing 
expenses  when  missionaries  arrived. 

"We  landed  on  a  Tuesday,  and  the  next 
evening  I  preached  my  first  sermon,  from  these 
words,  *  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world  ;'  and  God  blessed 
it  to  the  conversion  of  a  young  widow,  who 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Medhurst, 
our  oldest  Chinese  missionary. 

"  Tlie  next  day  Mr.  Loveless  said  to  me  : — 
*  It  has  long  been  the  desire  of  my  dear  wife 
to  have  a  free  school  for  girls,  as  large  as  tlie 
free  school  for  boys  ;  and  now  you  are  come, 
we  must  set  about  it.  I  have  my  plan,  and 
think  we  shall  succeed.'  In  the  next  week  I 
obtained  a  sum  of  money,  in  a  most  remark- 
able way,  to  commence  it,  as  will  appear  from 
what  follows.  The  wife  of  a  minister  in  Eng- 
land had  a  brother,  a  captain  in  the  Madras 
army.  She  Avrote  to  her  brother  about  me, 
and  one  day,  when  he  had  a  party  of  officers 
at  his  house,  the  letter  arrived.  An  English 
letter  always  produces  a  great  sensation  in 
India  on  tender  spirit&.    The  captain  said  to 


94 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


his  guests,  '  Permit  me  to  open  my  letter.'  He 
read  on,  and  as  he  read  he  laughed  heartily. 
*  What  is  the  matter  ?'  said  they.  '  Oh,'  said 
he,  '  it  is  a  letter  from  one  of  my  sisters,  who 
is  introducing  a  gentleman  to  me,  and  wishes 
me  to  be  very  kind  to  him.  Who  do  you 
think  it  is  ? — a  missionary.'  They  joined  in 
the  laugh,  and  said,  '  What  will  you  do  with 
him  ?'  '  Why,  I  will  make  him  drunk,  and  you 
shall  come  and  see  the  fun.'  A  young  officer 
who  was  present  had  a  brother  at  Mr.  Loveless' 
school,  and  on  his  way  to  the  Fort,  he  called  to 
see  his  brother.  In  conversing  with  Mr.  Love- 
less, he  said,  *I  am  glad  you  are  going  to  have 
a  coadjutor,  sir.  My  captain  has  just  received 
a  letter  from  his  sister  about  it.'  And  then, 
referring  to  the  '  fun'  they  had  eujoyed,  he 
said,  *  I  advise  you  to  put  him  on  his  guard 
when  he  arrives.' 

"  On  the  arrival  of  the  ship,  the  captain  saw 
my  name  in  the  Gazette,  and  on  the  Sunday  morn- 
ing after,  he  came,  and  brought  several  other 
officers  with  him,  to  the  chapel.  The  sight 
was  quite  novel.  At  the  close  of  the  service, 
my  friend  inquired  for  me,  and  expressed  great 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGX. 


95 


pleasure  at  seeing  me,  asked  many  questions 
about  Bideford  and  Axminster,  and  added, 

*  When  will  you  come  and  dine  with  me  ? '  I 
begged  to  be  excused  just  then,  as  my  baggage 
was  still  in  the  Custom  House,  and  my  pres- 
ence was  needed  there.  He  shook  hands,  and 
said,  *  I  will  call  on  you.'  He  did  so,  and  as 
soon  as  he  had  retired,  Mr.  Loveless  told  me 
of  the  plot,  but  added,  '  You  must  go.  Be  upon 
your  guard.  I  am  not  without  hope  that  God 
will  bless  your  visit.'  I  dined  with  the  cap- 
tain and  the  party  who  knew  about  his  sister's 
letter.  Englishmen  in  India  are  noted  for 
their  hospitality.  They  live  like  princes. 
They  fare  sumptuously  every  day.  The  wine 
passed  round  merrily.  They  pressed  me  to 
drink.    I  politely  declined.    The  captain  said, 

*  When  you  are  at  Rome,  you  must  do  as  Rome 
does.'  I  said,  '  Captain,  if  you  urge  me  to 
drink,  I  will  write  to  your  sister  about  it,  and 
what  will  she  say?'  The  snare  was  broken. 
'  Well,'  said  he,  '  do  as  you  please.'  They  re- 
lated soldiers'  stories,  and  I  related  missionary 
stories,  and  by  way  of  application,  I  said, 
'  Gentlemen,  we  are  going  to  build  a  girls' 


96 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


school  in  Black  Town,  near  our  chapel,  to  cor- 
respond with  the  boys'  school,  and  as  this  is 
the  first  visit  I  have  paid,  I  should  like  to  make 
it  memorable  by  your  becoming  the  first  con- 
tributors. Give  me  something  for  a  founda- 
tion stone.'  They  cheerfully  responded,  and 
sent  me  home  in  the  captain's  palanquin, 
with  fifteen  pounds  towards  the  girls'  school. 
From  that  time  the  captain  b^ame  a  regular 
attendant  at  chapel,  and  sometimes  ten  or 
twelve  officers  came  with  him  ;  one  of  whom 
was  converted  by  a  sermon  from  Mr.  Reeve. 
The  captain  also  bought  a  large  Bible  and 
Hymn-book  for  himself,  and  sent  copies  of  valu- 
able books  to  various  parts  of  India  to  his  old 
friends.  He  never  ceased  to  be  my  friend. 
After  I  had  become  very  intimate  with  him,  he 
said  to  me,  '  If  I  had  gone  home  before  I  saw 
you,  and  my  sister  had  inquired  about  the  mis- 
sionaries at  Madras,  I  should  have  said,  "  There 
are  none,"  or,  if  she  had  asked  me  about  your 
chapel,  I  should  have  said,  "  There  is  no  such 
place." '  So  much  for  the  testimony  of  worldly 
men  on  the  subject  of  missions." 

On  the  4th  February,  1817,  he  writes  : 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


97 


"  My  dear  and  tender  Parents, — Four- 
teen thousand  miles  have  not  in  the  least 
abated  my  affection  for  you,  my  brother,  or 
tlie  dear  children.  No  ;  I  have  you  on  ray 
heart.  In  the  beginning  of  January,  I  for- 
warded, by  the  Albion,  five  copious  letters,  but, 
to  my  great  mortification,  they  are  completely 
gone.  The  ship  is  wrecked  ;  but  every  person 
saved.  The  cargo  lost,  and  the  packet  of  let- 
ters soaked  and  spoiled.  This  comes  with 
only  a  few  of  tlie  numerous  particulars  stated 
in  the-  one  that  is  gone,  and  to  none  of  my  dear 
friends  can  I  write  at  present. 

"  Through  the  tender  mercies  of  God,  I  am 
well,  very  well,  much  better  than  when  I  last 
saw  your  face.  India  agrees  with  me  much 
better  than  I  could  have  even  hoped  for.  My 
dear  brother  and  sister.  Loveless,  are  most 
affectionate  creatures.  I  live  with  them,  and 
am  quite  at  home.  I  live  principally  on  rice, 
which  suits  my  constitution.  I  take  much 
exercise  in  the  morning  before  the  sun  rises. 
The  morning  and  the  evening  are  the  only 
seasons  which  are  safe  for  Europeans  to  go 
out,  because  the  heat  of  the  sun  is  quick  de- 
7 


98 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


struction.  I  Avear  very  thin  clothes — white 
jacket  and  Nankeen  trousers — sleep  very  cool 
— drink  very  little — preach  very  often — study 
very  closely — make  some  advances  in  the  lan- 
guage— visit  the  schools  twice  a  week — see 
some  fruit  of  my  labours — and  want  nothing 
but  a  thankful  heart.    This  is  my  language  : 

'  Gracious  Redeemer,  make  me  bear 
More  of  Thy  Gracious  image  here.' 

"  This  is  a  hasty  glance  at  myself ;  now  let 
me  tell  you  of  our  chapel.  Here  we  have 
service  thrice  a  week,  and  many  attend.  On 
each  side  of  the  chapel  we  have  a  charity 
school  :  on  the  right  side  for  boys — 147  belong 
to  it  ;  on  the  left  side  for  girls,  which  is  in  its 
infancy,  but  bids  fair  for  much  good.  Between 
the  boys'  school  and  the  chapel,  we  have  a 
school  for  the  native  children,  little,  sharp, 
intelligent  creatures,  almost  naked.  They  sit 
on  the  ground,  write  on  the  sand  till  they  can 
make  good  letters,  and  then  on  the  leaf  of  a 
tree  with  a  pen  of  iron.  We  have  four  other 
schools  in  various  parts  of  Madras,  in  which 
are  about  200  boys  ;  but  the  natives  will  not 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


99 


permit  their  girls  to  learn  reading — even  a 
princess  does  not  know  a  letter.  Mr.  Love- 
less has  opened  the  large  school-room  for 
divine  service  ;  and  every  Sunday  evening 
great  numbers  attend.  We  read  the  prayers 
of  the  Church  of  England  in  this  place.  I 
have  no  less  than  twenty-five  officers  of  the 
army  at  once  to  hear  me.  In  the  fort,  we 
preach  twice  a  week  to  the  soldiers  ;  few 
attend.  They  do  not  think  (generally  speak- 
ing) that  they  are  sinners.  At  the  '  Mount ' 
we  preach  once  a  week  to  a  party  of  soldiers, 
in  a  house  left  for  that  purpose  by  a  pious 
serjeant-major.  This  is  eight  miles  from  Ma- 
dras ;  a  lovely  place  ;  the  road  thickly  set 
with  beautiful  banyan  trees,  which  in  some 
parts  form  an  arch,  and  yield  a  delightful 
shade  to  the  weary  traveller." 

Mr.  Knill  gained  much  influence  over  these 
officers.  His  sincere,  open  and  direct  manner 
suited  their  taste.  He  seemed  to  know  in- 
stinctively when  to  assault  the  conscience,  and 
when  to  touch  a  chord  of  home  recollections. 
"  What  do  you  missionaries  mean  ?"  said  one 
of  them  ;  "  do  you  think  that  poor  black  fellow 


100 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


will  be  damned  ?"  "  I  hope  not,"  was  the 
answer  ;  but  if  he  is,  I  think  his  punishment 
will  be  very  light  compared  with  yours,  if  you 
neglect  God."^  The  interrogator,  convinced, 
lifted  up  his  hands,  and  said,  "  I  believe  it ;  I 
have  long  thought  so  Another,  whose  con- 
science had  been  aroused,  but  who  still  clung 
to  his  sins,  one  morning  called,  and  sought  to 
get  into  an  argument.  "  There  are  many 
things  in  the  Bible,  sir,  impossible  to  be  under- 
stood." "  There  are,  sir,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but 
the  seventh  commandment  is  very  plain."  The 
controversy  ended.  A  young  civilian,  while 
engaged  in  writing  a  book  on  infidel  principles, 
probably  visited  by  some  relentings,  went  one 
Sunday  to  the  mission  chapel.  "  The  text," 
says  Mr.  Knill,  was,  '  Behold,  I  stand  at  the 
door  and  knock.'  I  saw  the  stranger  in  tears, 
and  said  to  one  of  the  deacons,  '  Do  you  know 
where  he  lives  ?  I  must  write  to  him.'  I  did 
so  ;  and  received  an  answer,  requesting  me  to 
*  call  at  once.'  I  found  him  in  tears.  '  You 
felt  a  good  deal  this  morning,  sir  ?'  said  I. 
'  Yes,'  he  replied ;  '  Christ  has  so  often  knock- 
ed at  my  door,  and  been  refused  admission, 


THE  FIRST  Cr\MPATGX.  101 

that  I  feared  to-day  tliat  He  would  knock  no 
longer.'  '  To  prevent  that/  I  said, '  let  us  kneel 
down  immediately  and  ask  forgiveness  ;  that  is 
the  plan.'  We  prayed  ;  he  wept ;  he  resolved  ; 
ho  tore  his  infidel  manuscript  in  pieces  ;  left 
his  infidel  associates  ;  abandoned  liis  lucrative 
situation  in  the  Company's  service,  and  sailed 
for  England.  Before  leaving  India,  he  wrote 
a  spirited  letter  to  the  public,  calling  a  meet- 
ing for  the  formation  of  a  missionary  associa- 
tion. We  had  a  good  meeting,  at  which  he 
spoke-,  making  a  public  recantation  of  his  for- 
mer errors.  A  report  of  the  proceedings  was 
drawn  up,  and  presented  to  the  Governor,  for 
permission  to  print  it.  His  Excellency,  with 
his  own  hand,  erased  '  all  objectionable  parts,' 
that  is,  all  that  was  worth  printing,  and  then 
gave  us  permission  to  proceed.  We  carried 
out  the  object,  without  employing  the  press  at 
all." 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loveless,"  continues  the 
reminiscences, "  would  have  me  live  with  them, 
but  they  charged  me  very  little  for  my  board, 
whereby  I  was  enabled,  with  my  salary,  to 
support  seven  native  schools.  These  were  so 
9* 


102 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


situated  that  I  could  A'isit  them  all  in  one  day; 
and  while  they  gratified  my  heart,  they  aided 
me  in  attaining  the  colloquial  language  of  the 
people.  My  horse  and  gig  were  seen  constant- 
ly on  these  rounds  ;  and  my  horse  at  last  knew 
where  to  stop  as  well  as  I  did.  This  nearly 
cost  a  Bengal  officer  his  life.  Captain  Page, 
a  godly  man,  who  was  staying  with  us  until  a 
ship  was  ready  to  take  him  to  the  Cape,  one 
morning  requested  me  to  lend  him  my  horse 
and  gig  to  take  him  to  the  city.  The  captain 
was  driving  officer-like,  when  the  horse  stopped 
suddenly,  and  nearly  threw  him  out.  He  in- 
quired, '  What  place  is  this  ? '  The  answer 
was,  '  It  is  the  Sailor's  Hospital." '  They 
started  again,  and  soon  the  horse  stopped  sud- 
denly, and  the  captain  was  nearly  out  as  before. 
'  What  is  this  V  'A  school,  sir,'  was  the 
reply.  At  last  he  finished  his  business,  and 
resolved  to  return  another  way.  By  doing 
this,  he  came  near  my  schools,  and  again  and 
again  the  horse  stopped.  When  he  got  home, 
he  said,  '  I  am  glad  that  I  have  returned  with- 
out broken  bones,  but  never  will  I  drive  a  re- 
ligious horse  again  ! '  " 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  103 


These  labours,  however,  were  not  to  be 
without  interruption.  Coraing  home  exhausted 
one  day  during  the  rainy  season,  he  flung  him- 
self on  his  bed,  and  fell  asleep.  He  did  not 
know  that  the  bed  had  been  exposed  to  the 
rain,  until  he  experienced  effects  from  which 
he  did  not  recover  for  several  years.  The 
immediate  result  was,  that  he  was  compelled 
to  leave  Madras  for  a  season  ;  and  by  the 
kindness  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Church,  an  excel- 
lent chaplain  to  the  East  India  Company, 
spent  about  two  months  at  Cuddalore.  From 
that  place,  on  June  10,  1818,  he  thus  writes  to 
the  Rev.  S.  Rooker  : 

"  The  heat,  and  other  things  connected  with 
this  country,  are  not  favourable  to  a  speedy 
recovery  from  sickness  ;  yet  I  trust  the  Lord 
has  more  work  for  me  to  do  at  Madras,  and 
will,  therefore,  prepare  me  for  it.  I  have  much 
reason  to  adore  Him  for  this  affliction  ;  it  was 
sent  in  great  mercy,  and  has  been  sweetened 
by  a  thousand  consolations.  Ah,  my  dear 
Rooker,  missionaries  want  chastisement  as  well 
as  others,  and  their  Father  loves  them  too  well 
to  spare  them.    We  want  to  learn  how  to 


104 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


mffei\  as  well  as  do  the  will  of  God,  and  I  be- 
lieve my  soul  has  been  as  a  weaned  child.  It 
is  rather  singular  that,  during  my  affliction,  I 
have  been  staying  with  three  pious  chaplains  ; 
with  Mr.  Thompson  I  remained  a  few  days, 
with  Mr.  Malkin  also  a  few  days,  and  with  Mr. 
Church  I  have  been  more  than  six  weeks,  and 
shall  not  leave  his  habitation  till  the  hot  winds 
have  ceased,  which  will  not  be  for  some  weeks. 
He  lives  at  Cuddalore,  about  130  miles  from 
Madras,  in  one  of  the  pleasantest  places  in 
India.  I  mention  this  to  show  that  Church- 
men and  Dissenters  can  love  each  other,  pro- 
vided they  have  a  supreme  love  to  Christ. 
The  doctors  whom  I  have  consulted  give  it  as 
their  opinion  that  my  liver  is  not  attacked, 
nor  are  my  lungs  affected,  but  my  debility  has 
arisen  chiefly  from  '  excessive  labour  and 
great  abstemiousness.'  This,  I  believe,  is  the 
case  ;  but  I  did  it,  as  I  thought,  for  the  best. 
And,  my  dear  sir,  there  is  no  man  who  has  a 
tender  concern  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
happiness  of  man,  who  can  live  in  India  with- 
out exerting  every  power  ;  for  sin  is  doing  all 
it  can  do  in  its  very  worst  forms  ;  and  who 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


105 


would  not  endeavour  to  stop  the  torrent?  I 
assure  you,  that  at  Madras  I  have  every  en- 
couragement to  work  ;  the  Lord  smiled  upon 
me,  which  put  new  life  into  all  I  did  and  said. 

"  About  this  time  last  year,  two  young  men 
were  first  seemingly  concerned  about  their 
souls  under  a  sermon  I  was  preaching  from 
Rev.  iii.  20.  One  of  them  was  a  young  Eng- 
lishman, a  very  clever,  and.  now  a  very  useful 
young  man  ;  he  is  about  to  return  to  Europe, 
and  intends  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days 
as  a  missionary.  The  other  was  the  descend- 
ant of  a  Dutchman,  who  had  scarcely  even 
seen  a  house  of  worship  before,  or  heard  any 
thing  of  the  blessed  Redeemer.  He  had  lived 
on  the  north  coast,  speaks  the  Gentoo  fluently, 
and  is  now  studying  it  with  a  view  to  proclaim 
tlie  everlasting  gospel  in  that  language. 

"  Since  I  have  been  sick,  I  have  received 
several  letters  full  of  encouragement,  and  cal- 
culated to  excite  the  most  grateful  feelings  in 
my  heart  to  the  ever-blessed  God.  Among  the 
rest  is  a  letter  from  a  lady,  who,  twelve  years 
ago,  let  her  house  to  Mr.  Loveless  to  preach 
in  ;  and  thougli  she  had  the  gospel  preached 


106 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


under  her  roof,  she  seldom  heard  it,  and  never 
felt  it  till  one  Lord's  day  she  came  to  the 
chapel.  I  was  preaching  on  '  family  prayer/ 
and  the  Lord  opened  her  heart,  and  now,  for 
the  first  time,  she  began  to  pray.  These  things, 
you  know,  my  dear  sir,  are  such  as  stimulate 
to  every  holy  action  ;  they  wind  up  all  the 
springs,  and  put  all  tlie  wheels  in  motion : 
every  power  is  put  to  the  stretch  in  devising 
and  acting  for  the  glorious  cause. 

"  The  last  sermon  I  preached  was  from  the 
last  verse  of  James.  One  of  the  primary  ob- 
jects I  had  in  view  was  to  stir  up  the  people 
to  a  serious  concern  about  the  Sunday-school. 
It  had  chiefly  devolved  upon  me  before  my 
affliction.  It  was  too  much  for  Mr.  Loveless, 
and  hence  it  began  to  fall  off.  Thanks  be  to 
God,  He  blessed  the  sermon  for  its  desired 
end  ;  nine  male  teachers  immediately  volun- 
teered their  services,  and  some  females,  so  that 
I  believe  we  muster  upwards  of  100  Sunday- 
school  children,  and  13  teachers.  This,  for 
India,  is  wonderful.  Perhaps  I  have  already 
written  you  of  my  giving  theological  lectures 
to  a  dozen  young  men.    This  promised  very 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


107 


fair  for  great  usefulness.  One  evening  in  the 
week  was  devoted  to  this.  Mr.  Bogue's  plan 
was  adopted,  which  to  his  students  has  proved 
a  very  efficient  one,  though,  I  believe,  it  is  not 
adopted  by  any  other  academy.  This,  with  all 
my  other  plans,  has  been  laid  aside  by  me  for 
many  months.  Oh  for  strength,  grace,  and 
zeal,  to  enter  on  my  delightful  work  again !" 

The  eminently  Christian  character  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Church,  whose  acquaintance  he  had 
formed  on  their  landing  at  Madras,  united  with 
the  fine  climate,  and  the  beautiful  scenery  in 
which  their  residence  was  situated,  revived  the 
buoyant  spirits  of  the  invalid,  but  did  not  es- 
sentially restore  his  strength.  "  The  doctor 
of  the  station  was  unremitting  in  his  kindness 
to  me.  I  had  a  visit  from  him  daily  ;  and  after 
one  of  his  calls,  he  said  to  my  host,  "  I  think 
Mr.  Knill  cannot  recover  ;  he  has  no  stamina 
left.  I  wish  you  to  advise  him  to  go  back  to 
Madras,  and  the  sooner  the  better.'  Mr. 
Church  sought  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  me. 
He  first  spoke  very  comfortingly  about  heaven, 
and  the  prospects  of  going  there.  Then  he 
asked  me  about  my  hope.    I  had  no  doubts  ; 


108 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


God  favoured  me  usually  with  briglit  hopes. 
'  Then/  said  he,  '  it  is  right  I  should  tell  you 
the  doctor's  opinion.'  He  did  so,  prayed 
with  me,  and  then  left  me.  It  was  a  solemn 
moment ;  I  was  glad  to  be  alone.  I  felt  as  if 
I  had  received  the  message  of  death.  I  took 
a  review  of  my  coming  to  India.  The  field 
was  promising,  and  the  labourers  were  few. 
We  had  started  many  things,  and  prosperity 
had  crowned  them  all  ;  and  'it  seemed  myste- 
rious, that  just  when  I  was  able  to  speak  to  the 
heathen,  all  the  purposes  of  my  heart  should 
be  broken  off.  But  I  had  left  all  for  Christ 
and  souls  ;  and  if  God  saw  fit  to  take  me  to 
Himself,  I  wished  to  say,  '  Thy  will,  0  Lord, 
be  done.' 

"  Very  soon  after  this,  it  was  reported  that 
an  open  boat  was  going  to  Madras,  100  miles 
distant  ;  and  as  this  was  an  easy  mode  of 
travelling,  the  doctor  advised  me  to  go  by  it. 
I  embarked  in  my  palanquin,  and  was  carried 
safely  to  dear  Mr.  Loveless's  again." 

About  this  period  Mr.  Loveless  and  Mr. 
Enill  had  an  opportunity  of  showing  kindness 
to  one  of  the  greatest  of  their  fellow-labourers, 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN.  109 

Dr.  Judson  of  Burmali.  He  had  left  Rangoon 
in  a  small  native  vessel,  of  a  class  that  never 
can  safely  lose  sight  of  land,  with  a  view  of 
proceeding  to  Chittagong,  ten  or  twelve  days' 
sail  distant.  Tempestuous  weather  drove  them 
to  sea,  and  involved  them  in  horrible  sufferings. 
After  two  or  three  months'  struggle  with  almost 
every  species  of  privation,  the  little  vessel 
came  to  an  anchor  in  the  mud  of  Masulipatam, 
about  three  hundred  miles  north  of  Madras. 
Mr.  Judson  gathered  sufficient  strength  to 
pencil  a  note  begging  for  a  place  to  die  in, 
and  addressed  it  "  To  any  English  resident." 
When  told,  a  little  while  afterwards,  that  a 
boat  was  approaching  from  the  shore,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  crawling  to  the  window  of  his  cabin, 
and  perceiving  the  red  coat  of  the  soldier,  and 
the  white  jacket  of  the  civilian,  he  sank  down 
on  his  knees  and  wept.  One  of  the  officers 
treated  him  with  the  most  generous  hospitality, 
until  he  set  out  to  Madras  in  search  of  a  ship 
to  Rangoon.  He  waited  three  months  for  a 
passage,  while  liis  friends  in  Burmah  were 
held  in  painful  suspense  as  to  his  fate.  But  it 
may  easily  be  imagined  how  much  his  sorrow 
10 


110 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


was  alleviated  by  the  friendship  of  the  mission- 
aries. ''I  received,"  says  he,  in  a  letter  to 
America,  "  such  proofs  of  Christian  affection 
from  many  dear  friends,  as  rendered  parting 
with  them  very  painful,  though  my  detention 
in  Madras  had,  in  other  respects  been  almost 
insupportable.'*^^  Mr.  Knill  mentions  but  one 
incident  of  the  visit : — "A  young  man,"  says  he, 
"  called  on  me  one  day,  to  speak  about  being 
baptized.  Mr.  Judson  sat  and  listened  to  the 
conversation.  The  young  man  spoke  admi- 
rably as  to  liimself,  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
Saviour.  At  last  Judson  rose  to  his  feet,  and 
clasping  his  hands,  exclaimed — '  If  ever  I 
should  live  to  liear  one  of  the  Burmese 
expressing  himself  as  this  man  does,  my  heart 
would  leap  for  joy.'  Happily  he  did  live  to 
see  his  ardent  wish  fulfilled." 

Another  hot  season  in  Madras  was  not 
reckoned  safe  for  Mr.  Knill,  and  he  was 
persuaded  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  former  fel- 
low-passenger, Mr.  Meade,  who  laboured  at 
Travancore.  After  an  interesting  journey 
through  Tranquebar,  Tanjore,  Trichinopoly, 

*  "Wayland's  "  Life  of  Judson,"  vol.  i.,  p.  154. 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


Ill 


and  Palmacotta,  where  he  became  acquainted 
not  only  with  new  forms  of  idolatry,  but  with 
evidences  of  the  Divine  blessing  on  the  labours 
of  the  early  Danish  missionaries,  which  at 
once  affected  and  cheered  his  mind,  he  was 
cordially  hailed  by  his  friend,  who,  then  in 
widowed  solitude,  persevered  in  proclaiming 
the  glad  tidings  near  the  Serpent's  Temple  at 
Nagercoil.  "  I  found  him,  with  his  dear  little 
boy,  in  excellent  health  and  spirits,  but  there 
seemed  something  wanting.  When  we  parted 
at  Madras,  I  carried  the  dear  child  in  my  arms 
to  the  ship,  and  Mr.  Loveless  supported  poor 
Mrs.  Meade  who  was  then  very  ill ;  but  now 
she  has  been  twelve  months  an  inhabitant  of 
another  world — a  citizen  of  a  nobler  city. 
Poor,  dear  Meade  looked  forlorn  ;  the  sight 
of  me  revived  his  recollection  of  the  wife  of 
his  youth  ;  but  the  important  duties  of  his 
station  called,  and  he  obeyed  ;  and  I  had 
now  a  little  time  to  reflect  on  my  new 
position." 

The  salubrious  climate  had  a  reviving  influ- 
ence on  Mr.  KnilFs  enfeebled  constitution,  and 
he  threw  into  the  work  all  the  energy  at  his 


112 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


disposal.  New  schools  were  opened,  sermons, 
consisting  of  short  questions  and  answers, 
were  delivered  to  willing  auditories,  and 
native  teachers,  bearing  the  names  of  English 
benefactors,  were  sent  forth  to  the  villages. 
AYith  characteristic  hope,  the  foundation  of  a 
very  large  chapel  was  laid ;  and  when  the 
difficulties  which  invariably  gather  round  such 
nndertakings  appeared,  they  were  met  with 
unflinching  courage.  There  were  stones 
enough  in  the  mountains,  and  trees  beyond 
number  in  the  forests  ;  but  the  means  of  their 
transportation  could  not  be  found.  While 
this  problem  was  waiting  for  solution,  "  I 
saw,"  says  Mr.  Knill,  a  huge  elephant  feeding 
near  a  temple  with  a  keeper  by  his  side.  I 
said  to  the  man,  '  Whose  elephant  is  this  ? ' 
The  reply  was,  '  He  belongs  to  the  goddess 
who  lives  in  the  temple.'  '  What  does  the 
goddess  do  with  an  elephant  V  '  She  rides  on 
him,' it  was  answered,  '  twice  a  year  at  the 
processions.'  I  thought  if  we  could  get  this 
elephant  to  draw  the  building  materials  for 
our  chapel,  the  animal  would  serve  a  new 
master,  and  be  employed  in  a  better  work 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


113 


than  canying  an  idol.  I  mentioned  it  to  Mr. 
Meade,  and  through  the  Resident  the  matter 
was  laid  before  the  Queen.  Her  Majesty  said, 
'  They  may  have  the  elephant  but  they  must  feed 
the  animal  and  pay  the  keeper.'  We  readily 
consented,  and  had  the  gratification  of  seeing 
the  monster  daily  engaged  in  drawing  stones 
and  timber  for  the  house  of  the  Lord.  The 
chapel  was  some  years  in  building,  but  now 
some  of  the  largest  and  most  interesting  anni- 
versaries in  India  are  held  in  it." 

In  the  midst  of  these  pleasant  and  important 
labours,  a  fearful  visitation  of  cholera  deso- 
lated that  part  of  India.  The  affrighted 
population  fled  to  the  missionaries  for  relief, 
and  gave  them  little  repose  night  or  day. 
They,  having  procured  medicines,  laboured  to 
meet  the  demand,  and  were  the  means  of  rescu- 
ing many  from  death  ;  But  the  sudden  and  ex- 
cessive exertion  told  quickly  on  Mr.  Knill's 
strength.  "  As  I  rode,"  says  he,  "  from  place 
to  place,  the  distress  was  very  alarming.  At 
one  place  I  saw  a  cluster  of  people  on  the 
roadside  sui-rounding  a  man  agonized  by  chol- 
era. I  gave  him  medicine  and  ordered  the 
10*  8 


114 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


people  to  rub  him.  At  last  the  poor  creature 
began  to  recover  ;  and  opening  bis  eyes,  said, 
*  Who  are  my  helpers  ?'  In  an  hour  he  was 
able  to  walk  to  the  next  village  ;  but  while 
engaged  with  him  I  was  exposed  to  a  very 
sharp  wind.  Choleric  symptoms  followed, 
which  nearly  killed  me.  This  was  decisive. 
From  this  time  there  could  be  no  reprieve. 
On  partial  recovery  the  doctor  ordered  me  to 
quit  India  at  once.  Dear  Mr.  Meade,  though 
reluctantly,  helped  me  away  ;  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  15th  February,  1819, 1  set  sail 
for  Colombo.  Vessels  generally  cross  the 
Gulf  of  Manaar  in  twenty-four  hours  ;  but 
we  were  becalmed  for  five  days,  and  the  sun 
beat  upon  us  very  much.  I  sat,  or  lay,  in  my 
palanquin  on  the  deck  the  greater  part  of  the 
way,  and  suffered  much  from  the  liver,  which 
was  affected  again  by  the  intense  heat.  On  our 
arrival  at  Ceylon,  I  was  removed  to  the  Wes- 
leyan  mission-house,  where  I  was  treated  with 
all  the  affection  and  tenderness  which  the  ser- 
vants of  Christ  are  wont  to  show  each  other." 

After  a  short  sojourn,  Mr.  Knill  succeeded 
in  securing  a  passage  to  England  in  the  ship 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGX. 


115 


Bichnond,  Captain  Home,  "  The  vessel  liad 
to  go  round  to  Madras  to  complete  her  cargo ; 
and  for  the  third  time  I  entered  Madras  Roads, 
and  once  more,  and  for  the  last  time,  found 
myself  with  beloved  brethren  and  sisters  in 
India.  It  was  early  on  Sunday  morning.  Two 
of  the  members  of  the  church  came  off  for  me, 
and  took  me  direct  to  the  chapel.  They  were 
singing  when  we  entered,  and  I  heard  the  verse 
given  out  by  Mr.  Hands  of  Bellar^- — 

'  Grace  will  complete  what  grace  begins, 
To  save  from  sorrow  and  from  sins ; 
The  work  that  wisdom  undertakes, 
Eternal  mercy  ne'er  forsakes.' 

A  poor  creature,  tossed  about  as  I  had  been, 
and  who  was  just  about  to  leave  the  land  of 
his  adoption,  for,  perhaps,  a  watery  grave, 
alone  could  imagine  how  these  lines  soothed 
my  troubled  breast.  I  silently  added,  '  Even 
so.  Father,  for  it  seemeth  good  in  Thy  sight.' 

"On  the  morning  on  which  the  ship  again 
set  sail,  a  new  mission-chapel  was  commenced, 
and,  as  a  token  of  my  bretliren's  love,  I  was 
honoured  to  lay  the  foundation-stone  ;  after 
which,  amid  their  tears  and  prayers,  I  bade 


116 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


farewell  to  India  forever.  The  chief  officer, 
whose  cabin  was  very  airv,  kindly  gave  it  up 
to  me,  and  I  found  it  a  great  comfort.  My 
health  went  through  several  changes  in  the 
tropics.  One  night  the  doctor  considered  me 
dying  ;  and  dear  Mr.  Griffiths,  a  Baptist  mis- 
sionary, who,  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  was 
returning  in  the  same  ship,  sat  with  me  and 
prayed  with  me,  commending  me  to  the  care 
of  Him  who  received  the  spirit  of  the  dying 
Stephen.  But  I  revived.  Off  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  we  had  stormy  weather,  which  so 
increased  the  illness  of  two  military  officers — 
a  captain  and  a  major — that  they  both  died  ; 
and  their  funerals  exceeded  in  solemnity,  I 
thought,  any  funeral  I  had  seen  on  shore.  The 
weather  not  permitting  us  to  land  at  the  Cape, 
we  put  into  St.  Helena,  where  we  remained  in 
lodgings  for  four  days.  The  charges  were 
thirty  shillings  a  day,  which,  for  me,  amounted 
to  six  pounds,  and  for  Mr.  Griffiths  and  liis 
family  to  fifteen  pounds.  But  when  we  asked 
for  the  reckoning,  the  host  answered  tliat  he 
had  been  ordered  to  present  us  with  our  bills 
discharged.    On  begging  to  know  our  bene- 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


IIT 


factors,  he  answered,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yernon,  the 
chaplain,  and  Captain  White.  Many  will  have 
to  thank  God  for  sending  English  ministers  to 
that  rock — then  the  lonely  prison  of  Napoleon. 
The  chaplain  accepted  from  me  '  CeciUs  Re- 
mains' as  a  keepsake,  and  again  we  set  sail  for 
Old  England. 

"  On  the  30th  November,  1819,  we  landed 
at  Margate,  and  after  a  day's  rest,  I  set  off 
for  Mr.  Nisbet's  where  I  was  cordially  re- 
ceived." 

"  Oh,  my  dear  Mr.  Rooker,"  runs  a  note, 
dated'  a  few  days  afterwards,  "  how  can  I  be- 
gin a  letter  to  you  ?  My  heart  grows  warm 
at  the  recollection  of  the  blessings  I  have  re- 
ceived through  your  ministry,  and  the  favours 
I  have  received  from  your  hands.  May  the 
Lord  repay  you  a  thousand-fold!  You  have 
heard  of  my  affliction,  and  I  doubt  not  that  I 
have  shared  in  your  sympathy  and  your  pray- 
ers. Now,  let  me  entreat  you  to  praise  the 
Lord  for  His  goodness  to  me  in  bringing  me 
in  safety  to  my  native  shores,  and  mercifully 
restoring  me  to  such  a  measure  of  health  and 
strength,  as  I  never  could  have  expected.  The 


118 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


improvement  of  my  health  since  I  landed  at 
Margate  (30th  November),  has  been  very 
rapid,  and  very  great.  Last  Monday  I  saw 
the  directors,  and  met  with  all  that  affection- 
ate kindness  which  the  blessed  gospel  inspires. 
Tuesday,  good  old  Dr.  Waugh  took  me  to  his 
physician,  who  reported  well  respecting  me. 
The  directors  offered  to  send  me  to  any  place 
which  appeared  most  suitable  to  my  present 
state.  The  physician  did  not  think  that 
Devonshire  was  altogether  suitable,  as  it  was 
too  damp  ;  but  I  shall  come  down,  by  the  help 
of  God,  for  a  few  days,  and  stay  among  my 
dear  friends  for  a  little  Russia  is  con- 
templated as  my  future  home.  Probably  the 
place  of  my  residence  may  be  St.  Petersburg, 
but  this  is  not  yet  decided." 

Journal. — ''January  1, 1820. — On  this  first 
day  of  the  new  year,  I  set  out  for  Bath.  The 
weather  was  exceedingly  cold,  and  travelling 
rather  dangerous,  but  through  mercy  I  suffered 
no  injury,  and  about  8  p.  M.,  was  safe  in  the 
York  Hotel  in  this  beautiful  city. 

"  January  2. — This  day  being  the  Sabbath 
of  the  Lord,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  Mr. 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGX. 


119 


Jay  preach  from  the  words, '  We  thanked  God 
and  took  courage.'  I  afterwards  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Haweis,  one  of  the 
fathers  of  the  London  Missionary  Society. 
He  was  an  old  man,  and  full  of  days.  More 
than  fourscore  years  had  rolled  over  his  head, 
and  yet  there  were  moments  when  he  was  all 
vivacity.  His  heart  was  always  warm  on  mis- 
sionary subjects,  and  his  eyes  frequently  flow- 
ing with  tears,  while  I  told  him  of  the  wonders 
of  redeeming  love  among  the  heathen.  The 
venerable  saint  talked  of  going  to  London  in 
May,  but  he  was  removed  in  a  few  days  to  the 
rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God. 

"  January  3. — The  missionary  prayer-meet- 
ing at  Mr.  Jay's.  He  pressed  me  to  give  the 
address,  which  I  did  to  a  large  and  interesting 
congregation. 

January  4. — Set  off,  after  experiencing  a 
thousand  kindnesses  from  the  Yockney  family, 
for  Bristol.  As  I  entered  this  city,  and  was 
passing  from  the  coach-office  to  Mr.  Skinner's, 
my  heart  was  so  full  that  I  was  much  relieved 
by  giving  vent  to  tears.  When  I  last  saw 
that  city,  I  was  a  stranger  to  God,  being  far 


120 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


from  comfort  and  holiness.  0  my  soul,  if  I 
had  died  then,  what  would  have  become  of 
thee  ?  I  look  back  and  tremble.  I  look  up 
to  Thee,  0  my  God  and  Saviour,  and  adore 
Thee  for  Thy  great  goodness. 

"  January  6. — Having  tarried  with  the  truly 
excellent  family  of  Mr.  Skinner  till  to-day,  I 
posted  onward  to  Poundsford  Park,  the  seat  of 
Thomas  Welman,  Esq., — the  refuge  of  Chris- 
tian ministers  in  the  days  of  persecution,  and 
the  hospitable  home  of  one  or  other  of  them 
ever  since. 

"  February  9. — Took  leave  of  the  hospita- 
ble mansion.  I  received  the  most  affection- 
ate kindness,  which,  together  with  the  peace 
and  happiness  I  have  enjoyed,  has  tended 
greatly  to  strengthen  my  body  and  establish 
my  health.  My  dear  and  honoured  friends, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welman,  accompanied  me  to 
Taunton,  where  I  took  coach,  and  proceeded 
to  Barnstaple. 

"  February  10. — Rev.  W.  H.  Gardiner  went 
with  me  to  Braunton,  the  place  of  my  nativity. 
My  dear  parents  are  greatly  altered,  having 
now  exceeded  the  lease  of  human  life — my 


THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 


121 


dear  father  being  in  liis  74th,  and  mj  mother 
in  her  75th  year.  On  our  arrival,  my  mother 
fainted,  and  I  thought  she  had  sunk  to  rise  no 
more,  but  the  Lord  was  merciful  to  her,  and 
to  me  also,  in  that  she  gradually  revived,  and 
was  wonderfully  cheerful  and  happy  ;  her  mind 
stayed  upon  God,  her  soul  fixed  upon  the  Rock 
of  Ages. 

»  "  February  13. — Preached  at  Braunton  to 
my  old  neighbours  and  companions  with  more 
than  usual  energy.  Lord,  bless  Thy  holy 
Word !  During  an  absence  of  four  years,  I 
found  many  of  the  neighbours  dead  and  gone, 
and  their  places  filled  by  others,  many  of 
whom  I  know  not.  Wliat  a  change  does  only 
four  years  make  I — 0  my  God,  all  things  fade 
and  die  ;  but  Thou  remainest.  Help  me  to 
seek  Thee  for  my  present  and  eternal  portion  !" 

For  nearly  three  months,  Mr.  Knill  tarried 
among  the  friends  of  his  youth,  in  all  tlie 
towns  and  villages  of  that  part  of  Devon, 
requiting  their  kindness  by  touching  and  ani- 
mating addresses,  accompanied  by  a  large  bless- 
ing from  on  high. 

11 


CHAPTER  V. 


"A  Man  in  the  right,  with  God  on  his  side,  is  in  the 
majority  though  he  be  alone,  for  God  is  multitudinous  above 
all  populations  of  the  earth." — Beecher. 


(123) 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 

At  the  period  of  Mr.  KnilFs  return  to  Eng- 
land the  religious  condition  of  Russia  was 
awakening  deep  interest  in  this  country.  The 
Scottish  Missionary  Society,  as  early  as  the 
second  year  of  the  present  century,  established 
a  mission  in  the  provinces  bordering  on  the 
Caspian  and  Black  Seas,  which  was  attended 
with  small  fruit ;  but  about  ten  years  later  a 
series  of  events  kindled  hope  for  the  whole 
empire.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Paterson,  who  had 
been  successful  in  promoting  the  publication 
of  the  Bible  in  Sweden,  conceived  the  idea  of 
attempting  a  similar  work  for  Finland,  which 
had  then  been  recently  annexed  to  Russia,  and 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  purpose,  arrived  in 
Moscow,  a  few  days  before  that  city  was  con- 
sumed in  presence  of  the  army  of  Napoleon. 
The  anxiety  produced  by  the  war,  which  lie 
feared  would  defeat  his  object,  proved,  on  the 

It*  (125) 


126 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


contrary,  to  be  favourable  to  it.  The  strik- 
ingly providential  destruction  of  the  French 
legions,  together  with  the  exhaustion  produced 
by  their  own  protracted  struggle,  disposed 
several  leading  statesmen  to  solemn  reflection. 
Above  all,  the  religious  impressions  made, 
through  a  variety  of  agencies,  on  the  Emperor 
Alexander,  inclined  him  to  look  favourably  on 
any  measures  which  promised  to  promote  the 
moral  welfare  of  his  people  ;  so  that  when  the 
proposal  to  print  the  Scriptures  for  the  "  for- 
eign Confessions  "  of  the  empire  was  laid  be- 
fore him,  he  not  only  gave  it  an  instant  sanc- 
tion, but  expressed  regret  that his  own  Rus- 
sians "  were  not  to  be  sharers  of  the  boon. 
That  omission,  which  had  been  made  to  avoid 
the  hostility  of  the  Greek  clergy,  was  speedily 
supplied,  and  the  Divine  "Word  was  eventually 
published  in  as  many  as  twenty  languages, 
inclusive  of  the  vernacular  tongue  of  the  coun- 
try. 

The  favour  shown  to  this  great  undertaking, 
not  only  by  the  emperor,  but  by  the  heads  of 
the  Greek  Church  and  the  ministers  of  state, 
many  of  whom  proved,  on  a  subsequent  day 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


127 


of  trial,  to  be  men  of  decided  Christian  prin- 
ciple, was  so  great,  that  for  some  time  what- 
ever the  sagacious  and  laborious  Paterson 
asked  for  was  promptly  granted.  The  law 
permitted  the  people  of  each  nation  to  wor- 
ship according  to  the  rites  of  its  own  Church, 
but  allowed  of  no  dissent,  and  of  no  proselyt- 
ism.  The  English  residents  in  St.  Petersburg, 
who  then  numbered  about  two  thousand,  had, 
on  that  principle,  enjoyed  the  ministrations 
of  the  Episcopal  chaplain  ;  but  as  these  were 
not,  at  that  period,  of  an  expressly  evan- 
gelical character,  a  strong  desire  arose  in  the 
hearts  of  a  few  persons  for  other  services,  and 
the  request  of  Dr.  Paterson  for  such  a  privi- 
lege was  so  far  complied  with  that  he  was 
allowed  to  hold  public  worship  on  the  evening 
of  the  Lord's  day  in  the  chapel  of  the  Mora- 
vian Brethren.  These  ordinances,  which  were 
rendered  peculiarly  interesting  by  the  some- 
times lengthened  visits  of  missionaries  on  their 
way  to  Astrachan  and  Siberia,  received  such 
evidences  of  Divine  approval,  that,  after  the 
lapse  of  four  years,  it  was  reckoned  desirable 
to  have  a  resident  minister,  who  should  make 


128 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


them  the  chief  object  of  his  attention.  This 
proposition  had  been  just  acceded  to  by  the 
Directors  of  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
when  Mr.  Knill  returned  from  India,  and  no 
time  was  lost,  after  his  own  concurrence  and 
that  of  his  medical  advisers  had  been  obtained, 
in  despatching  him  to  St.  Petersburg.  After 
an  extensive  but  exhilarating  tour  in  England 
on  behalf  of  foreign  missions,  he  sailed  from 
London  in  the  autumn  of  1820. 

The  season  was  rather  too  far  advanced,  and 
the  voyage  proved  protracted  and  wearisome. 
The  "  multitude  of  his  thoughts"  during  that 
interval  found  no  record  ;  but  a  letter  to  his 
parents  shows  how  affectionately  and  devoutly 
he  bore  them  on  his  heart : — 

"  At  S3a,  lat.  58  X„  long.  10  E., 
October  25,  1820. 

My  dear  and  hoxoured  Parents, —  .... 
Often  have  I  been  conversing  with  you,  and 
lifting  up  my  heart  to  God  for  you,  when 
walking  the  deck  or  swinging  in  my  cot.  Oh, 
how  earnestly  I  have  longed  for  your  spiritual 
and  eternal  felicity  !  This  world  has  not  been 
such  a  scene  of  trial  to  you  as  it  has  been  to 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


129 


many  ;  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  you 
all  your  journey  through,  and  I  trust  that  the 
arm  of  Jesus  will  support  your  tottering  age, 
and  His  soft  hand  wipe  away  your  tears.  I 
wrote  you  from  Gravesend,  and  requested  my 
kind  friend,  Mr.  Nisbet,  who  accompanied  me 
to  the  ship,  to  say  at  the  bottom  of  the  page 
that  he  had  seen  me  embark.  Our  passage  to 
this  point  has  been  very  expeditious,  and  we 
may  expect  soon  to  arrive  at  Elsinore,  whence 
we  shall  be  able  to  send  letters.  ..." 

A  baffling  wind  kept  the  ship  beating  within 
a  hundred  miles  of  that  port  for  a  week  ;  but 
eventually  he  was  able  to  address  the  Rev. 
George  Burder  from  the  "Bible  Society's 
House,"  St.  Petersburg,  on  the  7th  December, 
1820,  and  to  say — "  I  hope  you  will  never 
send  another  missionary  so  late  in  the  year  to 
this  cold  country.  On  our  arrival  at  the 
island  of  Cronstadt,  we  found  ourselves  en- 
circled with  ice  and  snow  not  sufficiently 
frozen  to  suffer  travellers  to  pass  it.  Hence 
I  was  detained  there  nine  days,  at  great  ex- 
pense and  in  painful  anxiety.  However,  on 
Saturday  last  the  ice  was  so  far  broken  as  to 
9 


130 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


admit  of  our  passing  over  to  the  opposite 
shore  ;  and  between  nine  and  ten  in  the  even- 
ing I  arrived  at  this  house.  Every  mark  of 
Christian  kindness  and  attention  I  received 
froDi  our  dear  friends,  Dr.  Paterson,  and  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Henderson.  On  Sabbath  morning 
we  met  around  the  table  of  our  Lord,  and 
found  it  a  time  of  refreshing  from  His  pres- 
ence. It  was  to  me  as  life  from  the  dead, 
after  being  shut  out  of  Christian  society  for 
many  weeks." 

Mr.  Knill  thus  entered  a  sphere  in  which  he 
was  destined  to  receive  and  to  impart  great 
blessings.  It  was  a  position  requiring  unusual 
circumspection,  for  the  government  was  pro- 
verbially jealous,  the  Greek  clergy  were  sus- 
picious of  every  encroachment  on  the  religious 
province,  and  not  a  few  among  the  English 
were  disposed  to  treat  contemptuously  those 
who  discountenanced  their  general  worldliness. 
But  Mr.  Knill,  though  of  a  highly  sanguine 
temperament,  was  distinguished  by  a  simplicity 
of  purpose,  and  a  fine  perception  of  propriety 
in  speech  and  conduct,  which  served,  through 
the  Divine  blessing,  to  keep  him  beyond  the 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


131 


reach  of  his  enemies.  The  congregation,  too, 
which  he  found  awaiting  him,  though  small, 
included  several  persons  of  great  intelligence 
and  fervent  piety,  by  whom  his  principles 
were  strengthened,  and  every  good  enterprise 
which  his  fertile  invention  suggested  was  cordi- 
ally sustained. 

The  entries  in  his  private  journal  show  a 
growing  sense  of  responsibility.  He  writes  on 
June  1, 1821 :  "  0  my  God,  give  me  grace  to 
love  and  serve  Thee  more  and  better  !  Grant 
that  every  token  of  Thy  favour  to  myself  and 
to  the  people,  may  endear  Thy  name.  Thy 
ways.  Thy  work,  to  my  heart !  And  wilt 
Thou,  most  gracious  Spirit,  pour  out  Thy  holy 
influence  on  the  people  in  such  a  plentiful 
manner  that  they  may  all  become  fellow-work- 
ers with  me  in  warning  and  encouraging,  in 
drawing  and  inviting  sinners  to  Thee,  and  in 
building  them  up  in  their  most  holy  faith  ? 
Make  us  a  holy  and  consecrated  band  !  Though 
despised  by  many,  may  we  be  rich  in  faith,  full 
of  good  works,  honoured  by  Thy  love  and  pres- 
ence ;  and  then  all  will  be — all  must  be  well.'' 

Nor  did  these,  and  similar  petitions,  remain 


132 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


unanswered.  Persons  who  Lad  forgotten  the 
professions  they  had  made  in  their  native  land, 
and  yielded  themselves  up  to  the  prevailing 
indifference  of  the  city,  were  restored  ;  and 
others,  to  whom  the  gospel  in  its  simplicity 
and  fulness  was  a  new  message,  were  gra- 
ciously brought  under  its  power,  so  that,  in  a 
few  months,  the  band  of  communicants  was 
doubled,  and  the  general  congregation  aug- 
mented in  an  even  greater  ratio. 

The  gladness  of  this  "  time  of  refreshing'' 
was  chastened  by  the  sudden  death  of  Mr. 
W.  Yenning,  whose  brief  career  contributed  so 
much  to  form  the  character  of  the  little  church, 
that  a  passing  notice  is  due  to  his  memory. 

Mr.  Yenning,  when  resident  in  London,  in 
1815,  was  attracted  by  the  Society  for  the  Im- 
provement of  Prison  Discipline,  formed  at  that 
period  under  the  presidency  of  the  Duke  of 
Gloucester  ;  and  having  succeeded  in  reform- 
ing some  juvenile  offenders,  at  a  time  when 
that  was  judged  hardly  possible,  he  resolved 
to  devote  his  remaining  life  to  the  enterprise. 
Proceeding  to  St.  Petersburg  with  mercantile 
views,  he  found  so  much  room  for  the  exertions 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


133 


of  a  philanthropist,  that  he  totally  surrendered 
his  original  pursuits,  and  gave  himself  over  to 
the  work  of  ameliorating  the  national  prisons. 
No  personal  dangers,  and  no  considerations  of 
ease  or  wealth,  restrained  him.  He  plunged 
into  the  receptacles  of  disease  and  crime  :  and 
by  a  skilful  organization  of  noblemen  of  great 
influence,  he  was  enabled,  in  a  marvellously 
short  time,  to  correct  flagrant  abuses.  So 
deep  and  general  was  the  impression  produced 
by  his  disinterested  consecration,  that  when  he 
died  of  a  fever,  contracted  in  gaol,  shortly 
after  completing  the  thirty-ninth  year  of  his 
age.  Prince  Galitzin,  in  proposing  the  monu- 
ment to  his  memory,  which  now  stands  in  the 
Smolenskoi  Cemetery,  said,  "  While  Russia  has 
to  show  near  one  frontier  the  ashes  of  his 
countryman  who  produced  the  first  traces  of 
amelioration  in  the  condition  of  prisoners,  and 
of  the  sick  and  suffering,  let  her  show  here  the 
monument  of  a  second  Howard, — a  worthy 
follower  and  emulator  of  the  good  deeds  of 
the  first."* 

*  Memoir  of  the  Life  and  Character  of  Walter  Yenning, 
Esq.,  by  Richard  Knill.    London,  1822.  8vo. 

12 


134 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


The  dying  words  of  this  devoted  man — "  I 
wish  to  say  to  you,  Knill,  labour  for  Jesus 
Christ  as  long  as  you  have  breath  in  your 
body" — were  long  remembered,  so  perfectly 
had  they  been  illustrated  in  the  life  which  was 
then  closing,  and  so  fully  did  they  accord  with 
the  purposes  of  tlie  heart  upon  which  they  fell. 
Not  less  influential  was  the  example  of  Mr. 
Venning  on  the  subsequent  life  of  his  own 
brother,  whose  name  will  hereafter  often  occur 
in  these  pages  ;  while  an  educational  institu- 
tion, which  occupied  much  of  Mr.  Knill's  atten- 
tion, and  which  flourishes  to  this  day,  sprang 
almost  immediately  from  his  ashes. 

"  Mr.  Walter  Yenning,  the  philanthropist," 
says  Mr.  Knill,  "  met  with  a  hopeful  penitent 
in  the  prison,  and  requested  Mr.  Gray,  one  of 
our  members,  who  spoke  four  languages,  to 
read  the  Scriptures  to  him  and  converse  with 
him  on  religion.  This  work  quite  suited  Mr. 
Gray's  mind,  and  he  expressed  a  strong  desire 
to  be  constantly  employed  in  it.  He  suggest- 
ed to  Mr.  John  Yenning  the  idea  of  a  school 
for  poor  foreigners  ;  and  he  mentioning  it  to 
me,  I  drew  up  a  paper,  which  the  Princess 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL.  135 


Metscliersky  showed  to  the  Emperor.  The 
Emperor,  in  his  own  prompt  way,  ordered  the 
thing  to  be  done,  granting  at  the  same  time 
5000  rubles  for  the  establishment  of  the  school, 
and  appointing  me  as  superintendent,  with  an 
annual  salary  of  2000  rubles,  and  Mr.  Gray  as 
master,  with  an  annual  salary  of  1000  rubles. 
It  came  upon  us  as  sudden  and  as  genial  as  an 
April  shower." 

This  institution,  which  offered  elementary 
instruction  through  the  medium  of  Russ,  Ger- 
man, and  English,  to  the  children  of  persons 
not  of  the  Greek  Church,  had  to  encounter  at 
the  beginning  all  the  old  prejudices  against  the 
education  of  the  humbler  classes.  But  on  the 
26th  July,  1823,  Mr.  Knill  was  able  to  write 
to  a  friend  : — 

"  Our  boys'  and  girls'  schools  go  on  well. 
Dear  Princess  Metschersky  is  a  nursing  mother 
to  them,  and  the  young  Princesses  Sophia  and 
Marie  are  following  their  honoured  mother's 
steps.  At  present  we  have  270  boys  and  70 
girls — a  most  interesting  sight.  Upwards  of 
300  have  been  refused  admission  since  the  1st 
of  January,  which  has  made  our  hearts  ache ; 


136 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


but  we  had  no  room.  We  sometimes  talk  of 
taking  a  larger  house,  but  we  are  afraid.  It 
is  a  new  thing  ;  a  charitj-school  for  poor  for- 
eigners was  never  heard  of,  and  we  have  much 
to  struggle  with.  We  did  not,  indeed,  expect 
that  an  object  so  decidedly  religious  would 
meet  with  general  support ;  but  we  had  no  idea 
that  the  contrary  disposition  would  have  been 
so  prevalent.  But  there  are  happy  exceptions  ; 
a  gentleman  from  your  side  of  the  Tweed 
lately  called  at  the  school,  and  afterwards 
meeting  me,  gave  me  200  rubles  to  its  funds, 
saying,  '  I  will  vindicate  it  wherever  I  go  ;  it  is 
the  best  thing  ever  set  on  foot  in  this  country 
by  the  English.' '' 

The  following  entries  carry  on  the  view  of 
his  inner  and  domestic  history  : — 

JouRXAL.— "  Mmj  29,  1822.— Reading  this 
morning  an  account  of  Dr.  Bateman's  life  and 
death,  I  was  particularly  edified  and  delighted. 
My  soul  melted  at  the  goodness  of  God,  and  I 
longed  to  glorify  Him  in  my  death,  if  it  should 
be  His  heavenly  will. — 0  Lord,  grant  that 
when  my  heart  and  flesh  fail,  I  may  find  Thee 
precious  to  my  soul,  and  may  be  enabled  to 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


137 


declare  to  all  around  my  dying-bed  liow 
precious,  how  glorious  Thou  art." 

"  October  30. — I  would  devoutly  adore  Thee, 

0  my  God,  for  Thy  great  goodness  to  us.  Oh, 
favour  us,  favour  us  with  more  of  '  the  mind 
which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus,'  that  with 
meekness,  love,  zeal,  and  usefulness,  we  may 
pass  through  this  world  of  sin  to  perfect  joy  in 
Thy  presence. — My  father's  letter  informs  me 
of  the  joyful  tidings  that  my  nephew,  about 
seventeen,  comes  and  prays  with  my  dear 
mother.    Hallelujah !" 

"  December  2. — This  day  two  years  ago  I 
arrived  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  in  tracing  the 
linger  of  Providence,  how  striking  does  it  ap- 
pear ! — Gracious  Lord,  Thy  love  in  time  past 
forbids  me  to  think  Thou  wilt  ever  leave  me. 
May  every  successive  year  of  my  life,  if  years 
are  given,  be  increasingly  instrumental  in 
drawing  sinners  to  the  Redeemer.  0  Lord, 
Thou  knowest  all  things  ;  Thou  knowest  that 

1  love  Thee,  and  that  to  honour  Thee  is  my 
supreme  delight.  This  day  do  I  give  up  ray- 
self  to  Thee,  and  would  seal  my  covenant  with 
my  God,  my  Father,  and  my  all.  Amen.'^ 

12* 


138  THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


Decemher  17. — The  bridge  was  carried 
away  by  the  ice,  which  prevented  me  from  visit- 
ing my  friends  on  the  island.  I  therefore  visited 
the  school,  and  then  accompanied  my  dear 
friend,  Mr.  Venning,  to  the  prison,  at  which 
place,  I  think,  I  caught  a  cold.    It  increased 
rapidly,  and  by  midnight  I  was  in  a  violent 
fever.    The  thought  of  dear  Walter  Yenning's 
prison-fever  and  death  ran  much  in  my  mind, 
and  during  one  part  of  the  night  I  was  a  little 
delirious.    It  was  a  serious  and  anxious  time. 
The  communication  being  cut  off  from  my 
dearest  Sarah  by  reason  of  the  floating  ice,  I 
knew  not  but  that  her  next  intelligence  of  me 
might  be  that  I  was  dead  and  buried.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord,  He  has  not  cut  me  off  as  in  a 
moment,  but  has  raised  me  up  again.  The 
kindness  of  dear  Dr.  Paterson  was  very  great, 
as,  indeed,  it  has  always  been  ever  since  I  knew 
him.     I  received  from  him  some  medicine, 
which  wonderfully  abated  the  fever  ;  but  I  was 
unable  to  rise  during  the  Wednesday,  and  he 
preached  for  me  in  the  evening,  to  the  great 
edification  and  comfort  of  the  people.  The 
inquiries  and  attentions  of  those  of  the  little 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


139 


church  who  knew  of  my  affliction  made  me 
shed  tears  of  joy.  I  adore  Thee,  0  Lord,  for 
placing  me  among  so  pious  and  affectionate  a 
people.  Multiply  the  number  of  such  Chris- 
tians by  thousands  and  thousands.  Then  shall 
Thy  name  be  glorified  from  the  rising  to  the 
setting  sun." 

"  December  20. — I  was  so  far  recovered  as 
to  be  able  to  go  to  the  Rev.  Edward  Law,  to 
request  him  to  publish  the  banns  of  marriage 
between  me  and  my  Sarah. — Gracious  Father, 
who  hast  united  our  hearts  to  each  other,  pour 
down  upon  us  much  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  that 
we  may  be  preserved  from  dishonouring  Thee 
in  thought,  word,  or  deed,  and  be  assisted  in 
glorifying  Thee  in  all  our  ways.  Amen." 

The  event  thus  introduced  to  the  reader's 
notice  occurred  at  the  chapel  of  the  British 
Factory,  on  the  9th  of  January,  1823  ;  and  it 
may  be  permitted  here  to  record  a  few  words 
penned  by  Mr.  Knill  towards  the  close  of  his 
life,  relative  to  the  lady  who,  from  that  day, 
contributed  so  much  to  his  personal  happiness, 
and  to  his  usefulness  as  a  minister  : — "  She  was 
the  daughter  of  James  and  Isabella  Notman,  a 


140 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


quaker  family,  originally  resident  in  Newcastle- 
on-Tyne.  Her  father  served  under  the  two 
Emperors,  Paul  and  Alexander,  as  the  founder 
of  tanneries  in  different  parts  of  the  empire. 
He  won  a  fair  fame  for  the  Quakers  long  be- 
fore the  Emperor  Alexander  saw  "William 
Allen  or  Daniel  Wheeler.  Sarah  was  born  in 
St.  Petersburg,  and  after  being  educated  in 
England  at '  Friends'  school,'  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Kazan,  in  Asiatic  Russia,  where  her 
father,  in  the  midst  of  his  extensive  labours, 
fell  sick  and  died."^    Looking  back  over  our 

^  Mrs.  Notman's  life  was  once  singularly  preserved  by  an 
opportune  visit  of  Howard  the  philanthropist.  During  the 
absence  of  her  husband  on  a  long  journey,  she  was  seized 
with  a  typhoid  fever,  and  sunk  under  it  to  the  point  of  los- 
ing all  external  signs  of  life.  The  servants  were  proceeding 
with  preparations  for  the  interment  of  the  body,  when  How- 
ard, who  greatly  respected  the  family,  travelhng  near  their 
house,  came  in,  and  was  informed  of  the  circumstance.  He 
requested  to  see  the  body,  and  suspecting  that  liie  was  not 
extinct,  administered  some  powerful  restoratives,  which 
proved,  by  God's  favour,  successful.  In  a  little  while,  "  she 
arose  and  ministered  unto  them,"  having,  during  her  utter 
helplessness,  heard  distinctly  the  conversation  of  the  ser- 
vants respecting  her  funeral,  and  the  commands  of  Howard 
respecting  the  measures  for  her  restoration.  "When  she 
afterwards  accompanied  her  daughter  to  a  "  Friends'  school" 
in  England,  the  first  object  of  interest  to  which  she  conducted 
her  was  the  statue  of  her  deliverer  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


141 


happy  union  of  more  than  thirty  years,  I  de- 
liberately consider  it,  next  to  my  soul's  salva- 
tion, the  greatest  blessing  of  my  life." 

About  this  time  Mr.  KnilFs  labours  were 
much  increased  by  his  having  accepted  the 
appointment  of  the  London  and  the  Scottish 
Missionary  Societies  as  a  medium  of  communi- 
cation between  them  and  their  missionaries  in 
the  remote  parts  of  Russia.    This  work  grati- 
fied his  early  and  unquenched  interest  in  the 
heathen,  and  he  threw  himself  into  it  with  his 
whole  heart,  maintaining  an  extensive  and  en- 
livening correspondence  with  those  brave  men, 
who,  under  the  impression  which  proved  too 
correct,  that  even  the  hard  lot  which  they  had 
chosen  among  barbarous  and  warlike  tribes 
would  soon  be  denied  to  them  by  the  Greek 
Church,  devoted  themselves  with  intense  appli- 
cation, to  translations  which  might  survive 
their  personal  labours.    Upon  men  pursuing 
such  toil,  in  such  regions,  uncheered  by  Chris- 
tian society,  or  even  by  successful  evangelism 
through  the  living  voice,  the  letters  of  one 
more  pleasantly  situated  came  down  "like 
showers  that  water  the  earth." 


142 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


Not  less  welcome  did  his  personal  visits  con- 
tinue to  be  to  numbers  of  his  own  countrymen 
in  the  capital,  who  had  long  been  estranged 
from  the  privileges  of  their  native  land.  He 
reckoned,  and  perhaps  justly,  that  such  direct 
communications,  in  his  position,  formed  the 
most  important  department  of  his  duties.  It 
certainly  was  one  to  which  he  was  singularly 
adapted,  and  in  which  he  was  permitted  to  ob- 
serve very  distinct  proofs  of  the  Divine  bless- 
ing. The  spirit  in  wliich  the  work  was  pur- 
sued is  thus  expressed  : — 

Journal. — "  February  19,  1823. — In  my 
pastoral  visits  during  this  week  my  soul  lias 
been  much  comforted  by  the  pious  conversation 
of  my  dear  people.  They  are  very  dear  to 
rae  indeed.  Many  of  them  are  my  children  in 
the  faith. — 0  my  God,  how  greatly  dost  thou 
comfort  me  and  bless  me,  in  giving  me  such 
tokens  of  Thine  approval !  Dearest  Lord  and 
Saviour,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee  and 
Thy  service ;  nor  would  thousands  of  gold 
and  silver  so  rejoice  my  heart  as  to  see  Thy 
kingdom  advancing  among  us." 

Particular  cases  are  often  recorded,  and 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


143 


made  the  occasion  of  special  prayer  or  praise 
— the  golden  thread  which  ran  through  the 
whole  texture  of  his  life  — "  Mr.  M.  was  deeply 
affected  when  conversing  with  me  on  spiritual 
things.  His  little  daughter  observed  her 
father  affected,  and  with  much  concern  looked 
at  him  and  then  at  me,  as  if  I  knew  the  cause. 
May  she  soon  hear  a  father's  prayers,  and  know 
that  his  tears  are  those  both  of  sorrow  and  of 
joy."  Again  :  "  Spent  the  day  at  the  Y.'s  in 
the  country.  Had  much  delightful  conversa- 
tion with  Mrs.  Y.,  and  could  not  but  admire 
the  goodness  of  God  in  making  her  so  devoted." 
Then,  at  a  dying-bed  :  Oh,  how  my  soul  was 
comforted  to  behold  the  apparent  penitence, 
solicitude,  love,  hope,  and  obedience  of  this 
poor  dying  woman ! — I  thank  Thee  for  bring- 
ing me  acquainted  with  that  poor,  depraved 
family."  Of  a  public  person  of  great  influ- 
ence :  "  The  censor  purchased  good  books  for 
his  domestics.  Was  much  delighted  with  his 
moistened  and  intelligent  eye,  and  his  apparent- 
ly warm  and  devoted  heart. — Lord,  let  there  be 
ten  thousand  such  instances  of  piety  in  this 
city !  Amen." 


144 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


Towards  the  close  of  this  year  the  Russian 
Bible  Society,  which  for  the  ten  previous  years 
had  continued  to  pour  forth  its  treasures  in  an 
uninterrupted  stream  upon  the  country,  began 
to  experience  some  premonitory  difficulties. 
The  metropolitan,  Michael,  who  had  been  its 
true  friend,  died,  and  was  succeeded  in  his 
ecclesiastical  office  by  Seraphim,  its  decided 
enemy.  The  complaints  of  the  inferior  clergy 
could  now  find  their  way  to  influential  persons 
in  the  Church,  and  from  thence  to  the  ears  of 
Arakcheyeff,  the  chief  minister  of  state,  upon 
whom  the  burden  of  government  began  more 
and  more  to  be  developed.  The  emperor,  how- 
ever, continued  to  show  his  personal  favour  to 
the  promoters  of  evangelical  measures,  and 
while  he  did  so,  no  open  hostility  was  to  be 
dreaded.  Mr.  Knill  thus  cautiously  and  de- 
voutly alludes  to  the  imperial  kindness  in  a 
letter  to  his  young  friend,  Mr.  Parkinson,  then 
in  England  : — 

''August  15, 1823.— The  great  friend  of  good 
men  and  good  things  in  this  empire  lately  took 
tea  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yenning.  He  was  there 
for  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  never  was  so  warm 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


145 


in  the  things  of  God.  Let  us  pray  daily  for 
him  ;  for  in  his  days  the  righteous  flourish.'' 

At  a  somewhat  later  period,  he  writes  to 
Miss  Ross  of  Edinburgh,  to  whom  he  was  often 
indebted  for  a  deep  and  practical  interest  in  his 
endeavours  : — "  I  enjoy  the  fullest  liberty,  and 
the  Lord  is  pleased  to  bless  us  with  many 
proofs  of  His  loving-kindness,  and  thougli  I 
know  not  what  may  be  my  lot  to-morrow,  yet 
He  has  taken  from  me  all  fear  and  disquietude. 
I  was  greatly  agitated  and  distressed  at  one 
time,  but  I  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  He  heard 
me,  and  delivered  me  from  all  my  fears.  Hal- 
lelujah !  .  .  .  .  Decided  and  almost  universal 
hostility  to  vital  religion  is  a  marked  feature 
of  the  present  time,  and  it  is  to  my  mind  an 
evidence  that  it  is  greatly  on  the  increase,  that 
it  is  striking  its  roots  deeply  in  the  hearts  of 
the  Lord's  people,  and  that  the  energies  of  the 
Church  will  be  called  forth  mightily.  It  is  a 
very  eventful  period,  and  I  trust  that  we  shall 
be  assisted  to  advance  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom." 

The  same  letter  mentions  the  continued 
stability  of  the  school : — "  The  announcement 
13  10 


146 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


of  your  great  kindness  to  our  scliool,  through 
Dr.  Brown's  letter,  was  quite  cheering  to  the 
hearts  of  the  committee.  It  came  most  oppor- 
tunely ;  for,  owing  to  the  want  of  religion 
among  all  ranks,  we  meet  with  very  little  as- 
sistance. Indeed,  many  strenuously  oppose  it, 
especially  as  it  is  in  the  hands  of  those  whom 
they  are  pleased  to  style  '  Methodists.'  Not- 
withstanding this,  it  flourishes,  and  more  than 
two  hundred  boys  and  one  hundred  girls  are 
daily  receiving  instruction  in  the  most  impor- 
tant things.  These  children  are  from  among 
the  lower  orders,  and,  through  the  Divine 
blessing,  may  be  expected  to  exert  a  great  in- 
fluence over  the  morals  of  the  present  genera- 
tion, and  the  next  generation  also.  If  you 
have  never  been  out  of  England,  it  is  not  pos- 
sible that  you  can  form  an  idea  of  the  depraved 
state  of  a  large  city  with  little  religion  in  it. 
Books  cannot  convey  a  thousandth  part  of  the 
real  state  of  things." 

Still,  too,  did  he  enjoy  the  cooperation  of 
the  valued  friends  who  laid  the  foundations  of 
his  work,  and  in  whose  usefulness  he  was  ever 
as  ready  to  rejoice  as  in  his  own.    On  one  oc- 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL.  147 


casion,  being  seized  with  sudden  illness  when 
about  to  preach,  he  called,  he  says,  "  on  Dr. 
Paterson  to  pray,  and  with  difficulty  sat  down. 
The  Doctor  immediately  came  into  the  pulpit, 
and  went  through  the  service  in  a  most  solemn, 
animated,  and  edifying  manner,  afterwards 
administering  the  Lord's  Supper  to  the  largest 
number  of  communicants  that  we  have  ever 
had.  The  Lord  was  very  gracious  to  us  all  in 
thus  assisting  His  servant  to  declare  His  coun- 
sel.'' At  another  time,  when  detained  at  home 
by  sickness.  Dr.  Henderson  and  Dr.  Paterson 
divided  the  services  between  them,  and  "  I 
bless  the  Lord,"  is  his  language,  "  that  my 
dear  people  were  so  well  supplied,  and  that 
my  brethren  were  enabled  to  set  forth  the 
word  of  life  in  so  precious  a  manner.  Oh  that 
I  may  hear,  on  some  future  day,  of  sinners  be- 
ing converted  under  these  faithful  discourses  !'^ 
Nor  were  his  sympathies  limited  to  his  own 
flock.  He  watched  with  deep  interest  signs 
of  advancing  life  in  the  other  English  congre- 
gation. "  It  is  very  gratifying, "  is  the  entry 
in  the  Journal  of  March  14,  1824,  "  to  hear 
of  the  Rev.  Edward  Law's  faithful  preaching 


■'is  THE  RUSSIAN  CAPITAL. 


to  SO  large  a  congregation. — May  Thy  word 
be  made  like  a  fire  and  a  hammer  that  break- 
eth  the  rock  in  pieces !  May  there  be  a  shak- 
ing among  the  dry  bones,  and  a  great  ingather- 
ing of  precious  souls  to  Christ !  Amen." 


CHAPTER  YI. 


"  Oh,  fear  not  in  a  world  like  this, 
And  thou  shalt  know  ere  long — 
Know  how  sublime  a  thmg  it  is 
To  suffer  and  be  strong !" 

Longfellow. 


13* 


(149) 


STOKMS. 


The  series  of  trials,  both  public  and  domestic, 
which  now  approached,  was  ushered  in  bj  the 
inundation  and  threatened  destruction  of  the 
city.  Peter  the  Great,  it  is  well  known,  chose 
the  site  of  his  capital  more  with  reference  to 
his  political  and  commercial  designs  than  from 
regard  to  the  comfort  of  its  future  inhabitants. 
A  position  fifty  miles  below  the  largest  lake  in 
Europe,  at  the  head  of  a  magnificent  gulf,  and 
commanding  communications  with  the  Eastern 
and  Western  hemispheres,  was  not  to  be  re- 
iected  because  it  was  so  soft  that  the  founda- 
tions of  palaces  required  to  be  as  deep  as  the 
walls  were  high,  and  so  low  as  to  be  in  no 
part  twenty  feet  higher  than  the  surrounding 
waters.  The  imperial  determination  so  far 
prevailed,  that  one  of  the  most  imposing  cities 
of  the  world  now  rests  on  the  quivering  sur- 
face of  those  marshy  islets  ;  but  a  higher  law 
5*  [151] 


152 


STORMS. 


is  said  perpetually  to  hold  over  it  the  possi- 
bility of  a  complete  submergence.  Whenever 
it  shall  happen  that  a  powerful  west  wind  shall 
blow  during  the  fortnight  which  witnesses  the 
breaking  up  of  the  ice,  the  waters  of  the  Gulf 
of  Finland,  it  is  affirmed,  will  meet  the  cur- 
rent from  Lake  Ladoga,  and,  rising  together, 
they  will  roll  over  the  city,  and  involve  its 
four  hundred  thousand  inhabitants  in  a  fate 
not  less  terrible  than  that  of  Herculaneum 
and  Pompeii.  Such  a  combination  of  circum- 
stances may,  of  course,  never  occur  ;  but  even 
the  modified  form  of  it,  which  must  now  be 
noticed,  brought  consequences  sufficiently  dread- 
ful. In  the  middle  of  November,  1824,  a  gale 
of  unusual  violence  swept  through  the  British 
Channel,  the  North  Sea,  and  the  Baltic,  and, 
passing  up  the  Gulf  of  Finland,  reached  St. 
Petersburg  on  the  19th  of  that  month.  Trees 
which  had  stood  every  winter-blast,  from  the 
foundation  of  the  city,  were  levelled  with  the 
ground,  and  the  iron  roof  of  the  Bible  House 
was  "  rolled  up  like  a  sheet  of  paper,  and  car- 
ried into  the  air."  This  peril  of  the  wind 
brought  the  greater  peril  of  the  waters. 


STORMS. 


153 


"  On  Thursday  night,"  writes  Mr.  Knill  to 
Mr.  Alers  Hankey,  on  the  23d  November,  "  the 
wind  was  high,  and  the  waters  rose  very  much, 
BO  that  guns  were  fired  to  warn  the  inhabi- 
tants of  those  apartments  which  were  nearly 
on  a  level  with  the  river.  The  next  morning 
the  guns  fired  again,  as  the  waters  had  greatly 
increased.  About  ten  A.  M.  some  of  the  streets 
near  the  Neva  were  beginning  to  be  covered  ; 
but  the  people  would  not  believe  that  the 
waters  could  rise  much  higher,  forty-seven 
years  having  rolled  away  since  the  city  was 
inundated.  By  half-past  ten  it  was  too  late 
to  attempt  the  removal  of  any  property,  and 
all  the  people  were  thrown  into  confusion. 
Those  who  could  run,  ran ;  and  those  who 
could  not,  cried  for  deliverance  from  immedi- 
diate  death.  In  some  instances  assistance 
reached  the  sufferers  ;  but  in  many  more  they 
were  suffocated  in  the  flood. 

"  By  two  p.  M.  the  city  presented  a  scene  the 
most  awful  that  can  be  conceived.  Every 
place  was  deserted.  There  was  nothing  visible 
that  had  life,  and  the  streets  were  occupied  by 
ships,  and  boats,  and  watch-houses,  and  float- 


154 


STORMS. 


ing  trees,  and  even  coffins  from  the  cemeteries, 
with  property  of  various  kinds.  Several  en- 
tire villages  were  carried  away,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  cottage  here  and  there  to  make 
known  where  they  once  stood. 

"  The  havoc  which  has  been  made  among 
the  poor  surpasses  anything  that  I  have  ever 
heard  of  in  modern  times.  Many  thousands 
were  hurried  in  a  moment  to  meet  their  Judge. 
This  is  the  most  affecting  part  of  the  story  ; 
for  the  loss  to  the  commercial  world,  though 
great,  and  the  miseries  among  the  trades-peo- 
ple, though  pressing,  may  all  be  remedied  ;  but 
those  who  are  gone  ! ! !  those  who  are  gone  ! ! ! 
May  I  never  lose  the  impression  which  I  now 
feel  of  the  value  of  the  soul  and  the  necessity 
of  redemption  through  Jesus  Christ,  as  well 
as  the  importance  of  making  every  sermon  to 
abound  with  those  particular  truths  which  are 
calculated  to  lead  men  to  Christ,  and  to  be 
ready  to  depart !  Oh,  what  would  I  have 
given  for  an  angel's  voice,  and  an  eagle's 
wings,  to  flee  and  tell  the  drowning  peasants 
of  the  Lamb  of  God !  but  now  it  is  over." 

About  noon,  the  wind,  though  it  did  not 


STORMS.  155 


abate  in  force,  by  God's  merciful  appointment, 
shifted  a  few  points,  and  the  city  was  saved 
from  complete  destruction.  By  two  o'clock 
the  waters  had  decreased  several  inches,  and 
by  six  it  was  possible  to  walk  in  the  streets. 
Next  morning,  those  who  had  been  driven 
from  their  dwellings,  and  were  still  alive,  re- 
turned to  witness  the  desolation,  to  seek  for 
traces  of  lost  friends,  and  to  save  the  remnants 
of  their  property. 

"  I  am  happy  to  know,"  Mr.  Knill  continues^ 
"  that  many  of  my  dear  people  were  much  en- 
gaged in  prayer  during  the  dreadful  hours, 
and  some  of  them  were  made  inexpressibly 
happy  in  the  prospect  of  death  and  eternity. 
It  is  very  delightful  to  see  that  a  great  spirit 
of  love  and  sympathy  is  manifested  towards 
the  sufferers.  Almost  every  family  that  has 
comfortable  lodgings  has  taken  another  family, 
or  part  of  a  family,  to  share  its  comforts,  or  in 
some  other  way  to  alleviate  its  sorrows.  Dear 
Mr.  Mortimer,  the  Moravian  minister,  has  suf- 
fered a  good  deal.  He  and  his  family  are  for 
the  present  residing  with  me.  The  Moravians 
have  often  succoured  others,  and  I  felt  very 


156 


STORMS. 


thaukful,  and  considered  it  a  great  privilege, 
to  afford  him  a  little  temporary  accommoda- 
tion. There  is  reason  to  fear  that,  as  the 
winter  is  begun,  the  wet  rooms  will  remain 
cold  and  damp,  and  produce  much  sickness. 
A  subscription  is  begun,  which  I  have  no  doubt 
will  be  very  liberally  supported." 

The  misery,  indeed,  which  followed  the  flood 
was  much  greater  than  that  which  had  been 
experienced  during  its  prevalence.  Thousands 
had  been  driven  from  their  homes  without  food 
or  clothing,  and  instant  exertions  were  neces- 
sary to  prevent  wide-spread  starvation.  The 
Russians,  who  are  a  compassionate  people, 
threw  themselves  with  energy  into  the  work 
of  mercy  ;  and  it  was  a  tribute  as  honourable 
to  them  as  to  the  foreigner  whom  they  trusted, 
that  some  of  the  most  influential  nobles  and 
gentlemen  placed  themselves  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Mr.  John  Venning.  When  the  news 
of  his  measures  reached  the  Imperial  family, 
they,  also,  sent  him  liberal  pecuniary  support ; 
the  Grand  Duke  Michael  putting  into  hij 
hands  £1000  sterling.  Arakcheyeff,  the  foe 
of  evangelism,  demanded  that  those  fundi 


STORMS. 


157 


should  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  govern- 
ment ;  but  Venning  boldly  declined  obedience, 
and,  after  relieving  the  wants  of  the  sufferers 
with  unimpeachable  integrity  and  discretion, 
he  proposed  that  the  balance  of  the  fund  should 
be  augmented,  and  applied  to  the  establisli- 
ment  of  a  permanent  House  of  Refuge,  which, 
to  this  day,  opens  its  gates  to  the  afflicted  and 
the  destitute. 

Th«  gloom  of  the  closing  year  was  not  re- 
lieved by  the  events  of  the  spring  :  the  first 
cloud  which  darkened  the  pastor's  house  drew 
near. 

Journal. — "  March  10,  1825. — Keturned, 
and  found  my  dear  wife  and  child  in  perfect 
health.  My  lovely  Julia  met  me  at  the  door, 
and  congratulated  me.  I  sat  down  at  my 
writing-desk  to  prepare  letters  for  England. 
At  half-past  two  the  babe  became  very  uneasy, 
and  would  not  be  quieted.  Her  dear  mother 
attempted  various  ways  to  quiet  her,  but  all 
was  unavailing." 

The  account  is  continued  in  a  note  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parkinson,  dated  March  17,  1825  : 
The  delight  which  you  appeared  to  take  in 
14 


158 


STORMS. 


our  beloved  Julia  causes  me  to  take  up  my 
pen,  and  with  a  trembling  hand,  to  inform  you 
that  last  Wednesday,  between  four  and  five  in 
the  afternoon,  she  left  the  abodes  of  mortals  to 
join  the  spirits  of  the  just.  .  .  .  When  I  saw 
that  death  was  rapidly  approaching,  I  sat  at 
her  feet,  and  my  dear  Sarah  at  her  side,  while 
Mrs.  Yenning  was  kneeling  near  her  head. 
There  we  called  upon  God  to  support  us,  and 
help  us  to  bear  the  shock.  Gracious  and 
merciful  has  He  been  in  this  trying  hour  ;  bless- 
ed for  ever  be  His  name.  She  expired  a  few 
hours  before  the  first  anniversary  of  her  birth. 
We  had  been  fondly  anticipating  the  pleasure 
of  the  society  of  a  few  of  our  friends  to  com- 
memorate the  interesting  event  ;  and  little  did 
we  expect,  instead,  to  have  her  laid  in  her 
coffin,  and  nearly  all  our  acquaintances  coming 
to  sympathize  with  us.'' 

Journal. — "  March  12. — The  dear  babe  is 
laid  out  in  my  study.  Oh  that  the  circum- 
stance may  be  attended  with  the  most  salutary 
effects  on  my  mind,  on  my  studies,  on  my 
prayers,  on  my  sermons  !  Thus  may  the  death 
of  my  darling  be  overruled  for  great  good 


STORMS. 


159 


to  the  parents  and  children  of  my  little 
flock ! 

"  March  14. — Rose  this  morning  at  five,  and 
repaired  to  my  dearest  Julia.  After  I  had 
kissed  her  sweet  forehead,  and  her  clay-cold 
purple  lips,  I  took  her  dear  hand  in  mine ;  and 
my  soul  at  this  moment  received  unspeakable 
comfort.  For,  I  thought,  this  hand  will  never 
be  lifted  up  against  God — this  heart  will  never 
indulge  a  thought  contrary  to  His  holy  will — 
this  silent  tongue  will  never  utter  a  word  of 
rebellion — nor  shall  the  little  feet  ever  be 
found  in  the  broad  road  that  leads  to  death ! 
I  cannot  describe  how  happy  I  felt  at  the 
thought  of  this,  while  the  tears  rolled  down 
my  cheek  with  all  the  tender  emotion  of  a 
fond  father.  I  thanked  God,  and  took  cour- 
age, and  hastening  to  my  wife,  related  to  her 
how  the  Lord  had  comforted  me.  She  also 
was  greatly  consoled  ;  and  we  prayed  together 
for  the  Lord  to  help  us  through  the  day.  Ah  ! 
it  was  a  day  never  to  be  forgotten  ;  and  to 
make  our  grief  complete,  neither  of  our  dear 
brothers,  Paterson  and  Henderson,  being  con- 
fined to  their  chambers,  could  come  to  help  us, 


160 


STORMS. 


and  pray  with  us,  or  bury  the  babe.  Thanks 
be  to  God,  I  was  enabled  to  do  this  also.  A 
few  friends  came,  and  I  read  the  90th  Psalm, 
prayed  for  a  blessing  to  follow  from  it,  and 
then  took  the  body  to  the  grave  in  the  Smo- 
lenskoi  burying-ground.  It  was  truly  astonish- 
ing to  see  how  tlie  Lord  supported  both  my- 
self and  the  dear  mother  on  the  way,  and  at 
the  grave.  We  committed  the  dear  little  body 
to  the  dust,  in  full  assurance  that  it  shall  rise 
again  all  triumphant  and  all  glorious.  (1  Cor. 
XV.  42.)  Tears  have  since  been  our  meat  day 
and  night,  but  they  are  sometimes  tears  of 
tenderness — sometimes  of  sorrow — sometimes 
of  gratitude.  Oh,  what  a  precious  gospel  is 
our  gospel !  What  life  and  immortality  are 
brought  to  light  by  it !  Without  it  we  should 
not  know  what  would  become  of  little  child- 
ren, or  what  will  become  of  ourselves.  But, 
blessed  be  God,  we  have  a  sure  word  of  proph- 
.  ecy,  to  which  we  do  well  to  take  heed  ! 

"  March  15. — Lord's  day  morning.  Preach- 
ed my  dearest  Julia's  funeral  sermon  from  *  Be 
ye  ready  also.'  It  was  a  very  solemn  morning. 
What  a  mercy  it  will  be  if  some  one  -be  enabled 


STORMS. 


161 


to  say  in  truth  :  '  From  the  death  of  Julia 
Knill  I  date  my  spiritual  life  !'  August  10. — 
My  prayer  has  been  answered  ;  dear  M.  H. 
has  told  me  this  day  that  this  sermon  was 
blessed  to  her  soul,  and  brought  her  to  give 
up  herself  to  the  Lord.  Thus,  my  God  and 
Father  has  given  us  another  daughter.  Sep- 
tember 23,  1827. — Mr.  D.  told  me  he  also  was 
impressed  by  this  sermon. — How  good  are  all 
His  ways !" 

To  the  young  friend  to  whom  he  communi- 
cated this  first  domestic  sorrow,  and  who  was 
maintaining  a  Christian  profession  in  an  un- 
genial  atmosphere,  he  wrote,  at  this  time,  in 
the  following  strain  :  "  We  Avere  much  delight- 
ed to  hear  of  the  decided  conduct  of  Mr.  . 

No  doubt  it  will  become  known  here  ;  and  I 
hope  that  grace  will  be  given  him  to  act  with 
the  same  decision  at  St.  Petersburg,  that  he 
may  become  a  truly  good  man,  and  a  great 
blessing.  He  has  a  talent  for  communication  ; 
and  if  his  heart  be  warm  in  the  things  of  God, 
he  will  speak  to  the  advantage  of  some,  and 
the  confutation  of  others.  Your  being  in  Mos- 
cow has  no  doubt  been  a  blessing  to  him,  and 
14*  11 


162 


STORMS. 


we  ought  to  hope  and  expect  that  it  will  prove 
a  blessing  to  many.  Great  wisdom  and  purity- 
should  be  sought  after  by  you  from  the  source 
of  all,  and  God  will  give  it  you  if  you  seek 
Him.  I  see  and  feel  how  much  I  need  this, 
and  so  will  you.  The  more  public  our  profes- 
sion of  religion  becomes,  the  more  need  there 
is  of  an  increase  of  grace,  that  it  may  corres- 
pond with  that  profession.  A  star  may  set, 
and  few  observe  it,  but  if  the  sun  be  eclipsed, 
it  is  seen  and  conversed  about  by  all  the 
people  in  the  nation  ;  so  a  Christian,  in  some 
obscure  corner,  may  pass  on  calmly  with  low 
attainments  in  religion  ;  but  if  he  fills  a  con- 
spicuous station,  many  eyes  are  upon  him,  and 
many  ears  are  waiting  to  hear  something  evil 
of  him.    You  were  known  before  now,  but 

since  your  return  both  you  and  Mr.  will 

be  considered  more  decided  than  ever.  I 
pray  God  that  He  may  give  you  a  large  share 
of  every  heavenly  grace,  and  make  your  house 
the  gate  of  heaven  to  many  !" 

The  shadows  of  the  year  deepened  as  it  ap- 
proached its  close.  The  Emperor,  although 
maintaining,  as  it  has  been  intimated,  the  most 


STORMS. 


163 


friendly  relations  to  the  men  who  sought  the 
religious  good  of  the  people,  had  permitted  the 
influence  of  the  priesthood  to  obstruct  their 
plans.  The  removal  of  Prince  Galitzin  from 
the  presidency  of  the  Bible  Society,  and  the 
substitution  of  the  new  metropolitan,  Seraphim, 
was  a  marked,  and,  as  it  proved,  a  fatal  con- 
cession to  their  malice.  The  meetings  of  its 
committee  became  infrequent ;  and  the  doc- 
trine was  at  length  announced  from  the  chair, 
that  the  undirected  reading  of  the  Bible  was 
fraught  with  danger,  both  moral  and  political. 
These  omens  were  rendered  more  alarming  by 
the  increasing  disinclination  of  Alexander  to 
public  business.  His  nervous  system  appeared 
to  be  shattered,  and  his  mind  depressed.  He 
spent  much  time  in  retirement,  and  devoted 
himself  to  religious  duties  with  an  ardour 
which  some  pronounced  superstitious.  In  the 
early  part  of  the  autumn,  the  Empress,  who 
was  in  delicate  health,  was  advised  to  reside 
during  the  winter  in  the  south  of  Russia,  and 
the  Emperor  willingly  seized  the  opportunity 
of  withdrawing  from  the  publicity  of  the  capi- 
tal by  joining  her  at  Taganrog. 


164 


STORMS. 


While  there,  his  depression  was  fearfully  in- 
creased by  the  intelligence  of  a  latent  conspir- 
acy in  the  army.  The  energy  requisite  to 
grapple  with  this  difficulty  no  longer  remained 
to  him  ;  and  not  perceiving  that  the  disaffection 
was  directed  rather  against  the  unprincipled 
men  whom  his  declining  force  had  suffered  to 
rise  into  power  than  against  himself,  he  ex- 
claimed, as  if  heart-stricken,  "  They  have  not 
known  me."  A  cold  caught  during  a  rapid 
tour  in  the  Crimea,  acting  on  his  enfeebled 
condition,  produced  typhus  fever,  under  which 
he  sank  on  the  19th  of  November.  The  event 
produced  unfeigned  grief  in  St.  Petersburg, 
for  the  monarch  was  sincerely  beloved  by  his 
people,  and  by  none  so  much  as  by  those  who 
had  the  best  opportunities  of  studying  his 
private  character.  Mr.  Knill's  note,  on  the 
morning  when  the  fact  became  known,  ex- 
pressed the  real  feeling  of  thousands  : — 

JouEXAL. — "  November  27,  1825,  Friday. — 
This  morning  I  was  informed  that  His  Impe- 
rial Majesty  the  Emperor  Alexander  was  very 
ill,  and  that  the  family  had  been  praying  for 
him.    It  was  painful  intelligence,  but  left  hope 


STORMS. 


165 


that  we  should  soon  hear  of  his  restoration. 
I  went  to  the  school,  then  called  on  a  friend 
who  was  very  much  distressed  at  hearing  the 
report,  and  before  I  reached  home  I  learned 
that  it  was  certain  the  beloved  monarch  was 
no  more.  I  saw  the  soldiers  marching  from 
the  palace,  whither  they  had  been  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Emperor  Constantino. 
The  whole  city  seemed  to  be  impressed  with 
the  awful  and  solemn  scene.  Every  person  I  met 
seemed  to  feel  that  a  friend  was  gone.  Oh,  what 
a  day  was  this  I  How  unexpected — how  sud- 
den was  the  removal  of  this  much-revered  and 
greatly-beloved  Emperor  !  Lord,  sanctify  this 
awful  stroke.  Support  the  bereaved  widow, 
and  fill  her  soul  with  peace  and  consolation, 
and  may  the  honoured  and  distressed  mother 
find  in  Thee  a  comforter.  Lord,  have  mercy 
on  me  and  my  dear  little  congregation.  In- 
cline the  heart  of  the  Emperor  Constantino  to- 
wards us,  and  let  none  be  permitted  to  disturb 
or  distress  us.  May  we  be  assisted  to  walk  in 
the  most  exemplary  manner,  so  as  to  fear  God, 
honour  the  king,  love  the  brotherhood,  and  do 
good  unto  all  men.  Amen." 


166 


STORMS. 


It  is  well  known  tliat  Constantine  did  not 
ascend  the  throne  ;  but  it  is  not  necessary  to 
the  elucidation  of  this  memoir  to  do  more  than 
glance  at  the  fact.  It  was  at  his  own  urgent 
entreaty  that  Alexander,  three  years  before  his 
death,  executed  a  document  releasing  him  from 
the  responsibilities  of  that  position,  and  passing 
them  downwards  to  Nicholas,  his  younger 
brother.  This  paper  was  deposited  in  three 
separate  places,  and  its  contents  were  not  di- 
vulged to  more  than  two  or  three  persons,  of 
whom  one  was  Alexander's  most  trusted  friend, 
Galitzin.  Nicholas,  either  unacquainted  with 
it,  or  desiring  to  establish  his  claim  on  a  firmer 
basis,  went  instantly,  on  hearing  of  the  Em- 
peror's death,  to  take  the  oath  to  Constantine. 
Galitzin  met  him  on  the  way  to  the  altar,  and 
mentioned  the  fact ;  but  he  would  not  listen. 
He  swore  allegiance  to  his  brother,  and  was 
followed  in  the  deed  by  the  ministers  and  the 
army.  The  consequences  of  this  precipitancy 
were  instantly  foreseen,  and  occasioned  deep 
anxiety.  When  Constantine,  then  in  Poland, 
transmitted  his  absolute  refusal  to  act,  and  the 
army  was  required  immediately  to  transfer 


STORSIS. 


167 


their  fealty  to  another  sovereign,  the  leaders 
of  the  conspiracy  saw  that  their  hour  was 
come.  They  issued  orders  to  the  troops  to 
keep  the  oath  which  they  had  already  taken, 
and  thus  adroitly  seized  the  sentiment  of 
loyalty  to  do  the  work  of  sedition.  AVhen,  on 
the  morning  appointed  for  taking  the  second 
oath,  the  soldiery  poured  into  the  city,  Nich- 
olas rode  up  to  them,  and  saluted  them  with 
cordial  frankness  ;  but  they  refused  to  return 
the  compliment,  and  doggedly  marched  past 
with  the  muzzle  of  their  guns  depressed.  Dr. 
Paterson  witnessed  this  from  the  window  of 
Count  Lieven's  mansion.  "  It  was,"  says  he, 
"an  awfully  critical  moment.  I  could  not 
help  pitying  the  Emperor,  who  appeared  pale 
and  dejected,  but  behaved  well  through  the 
trying  scene.  The  horse  were  ordered  to 
'  charge,  but  the  mutineers  at  once  formed  into 
squares,  and  held  them  at  defiance  ;  and  on 
retreating  to  their  former  position  fired  some 
shots  after  them,  by  which  several  Avere 
wounded,  and  some  killed,  among  whom  were 
some  of  the  chief  ofiScers."* 

*  "  The  Book  for  Every  Land :  the  Autobiography  of 


168 


STORMS. 


Night  drew  on  before  extreme  measures 
were  permitted,  but  the  artillery  were  then 
commanded  to  open  fire,  and  the  irsurgent 
ranks  were  broken.  "  I  had  left  the  city," 
says  Mr.  Knill,  "  in  the  morning  with  my 
family,  when  all  was  quiet.  But  as  we  return- 
ed at  night,  we  saw  large  heaps  of  something 
piled  up  on  the  great  square.  Many  soldiers 
were  standing  about,  and  the  usual  thorough- 
fares were  shut  up.  On  inquiry,  we  found  that 
the  heaps,  among  w^hich  we  had  been  passing, 
were  dead  bodies — that  the  soldiers  had  revolt- 
ed— that  the  governor,  Miloradovitch,  had 
been  slain — that  a  dreadful  day  had  passed  in 
the  city,  and  that  still  greater  troubles  were 
expected.  We  felt  that  our  situation  was 
very  awful,  but  God  took  care  of  us.  In  the 
night,  the  Place  was  cleared  of  the  dead,  the 
bodies  having  been  put  through  large  holes  in 
the  ice  into  the  deep  and  peaceful  river." 

For  the  first  few  months  of  his  reign,  the 
Emperor  was  too  much  engrossed  with  meas- 
ures for  the  extinction  of  the  conspiracy,  and 

John  Paterson,  D.D.  Edited  by  TV.  L.  Alexander,  D.D. 
London,  1857." 


STORMS. 


169 


the  rectification  of  the  general  disorder  to 
which  puplic  affairs  had  been  reduced  by  the 
misrule  of  Arakcheyeff,  to  give  any  indication 
of  his  policy  relative  to  religious  institutions. 
But  when  the  ofi&cial  representatives  of  all 
public  bodies  were  invited  to  the  funeral  of 
the  deceased  Emperor,  those  of  the  society 
which  he  regarded  as  the  chief  gem  of  his 
dominions  were  omitted — a  circumstance  which 
was  regarded  as  significant  of  a  design  to  per- 
mit it  quietly  to  subside  into  oblivion.  It  was 
not  till  13th  February,  1826,  that  the  obse- 
quies were  observed  ;  and  when  Mr.  Knill, 
under  that  date,  writes  in  his  Journal — "  On 
returning  from  the  grand  and  solemn  proces- 
sion, conveying  a  very  affecting  view  of  human 
greatness,  a  few  of  us  met  at  the  Bible  House, 
and  united  in  prayer  to  God  for  grace  to  live 
more  and  more  to  His  glory,'' — he  reveals  the 
thoughtful  and  expectant  posture  of  the  little 
band. 

It  may  be  true,  that  imprudent  oratory  in 
England  alarmed  some  faithful  adherents  of 
the  Greek  Church,  and  even  that,  in  some 
places,  conspirators  had  met  under  the  guise  of 
15 


170 


STORMS. 


a  Bible  Society  Committee  ;  but  the  tide  had 
risen  and  rushed  on,  independently  of  such  ac- 
cidental auxiliaries.  More  than  half  a  million 
of  copies  of  the  New  Testament,  in  the  mother 
tongue  of  the  people,  could  not  have  found 
their  way  to  all  parts  of  the  empire  without 
producing  effects  unpleasant  to  the  Church  au- 
thorities ;  and  no  human  instrument,  but  the 
will  of  the  reigning  prince,  could  have  held 
the  opposition  in  check.  The  new  Emperor 
had  not,  like  his  predecessor,  fathomed  the  deep 
springs  of  this  enmity,  and  could  not  have 
foreseen  the  consequences  of  his  own  decisions. 
When  told  by  Galitzin  that  the  priesthood 
wished  the  conductors  of  the  Bible  Society  to 
quit  Russia  because  they  were  heretics,  he  ex- 
claimed that  he  could  not  "  endure  such  big- 
otry," and  afterwards  treated  them  in  a  manner 
which  proved  his  words  to  be  sincere.  It  was, 
therefore,  probably  more  from  an  excessive 
desire  of  having  everything,  as  he  conceived, 
in  its  right  department,  than  from  any  defined 
hostility  to  the  diffusion  of  the  Scriptures,  that 
he  transferred  all  the  operations  of  the  society 
to  the  "  superintendence  of  the  Holy  Synod." 


STORMS. 


171 


But  tbis  he  did  in  a  ukase,  dated  15th  August, 
1826,  and  by  that  act  closed  a  fountain  of  life 
which,  except  to  the  small  degree  hereafter  to 
be  related,  has  not  been  re-opened  to  the 
present  moment. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


"EuKAiROS,  Akairos:  in  season,  out  ot  season." 

St.  Paul. 

"  For  the  heart  grows  rich  in  giving ;  all  its  wealth  is  living 
grain ; 

Seeds,  which  mildew  in  the  garner,  scattered,  fill  with  gold 
the  plain." 

E.  C. 

15* 

(173) 


4 


GLEAMS. 


"  3Iarch  29,  1826.— The  bridge  of  boats  set 
up  again !  Spring  returning  !  0  Thou  who 
makest  summer  and  winter,  warm  and  invig- 
orate my  heart,  and  make  all  my  beloved 
friends  joyful  in  Thee !  Shed  down  upon  us 
all  the  precious  and  invigorating  influences  of 
Thy  Spirit,  and  make  us  fruitful  in  every  good 
word  and  work.  I  have  lately  sent  forth  some 
of  my  sermons.  Gracious  Father,  break  not 
the  bruised  reed,  quench  not  the  smoking  flax, 
but  accept  and  bless  this  feeble  efi'ort  to  serve 
Thee.  Amen." 

It  was  thus  that  Mr.  Knill,  amid  increasing 
difficulties,  girded  himself  afresh  for  ]iis  work. 
Only  by  a  nearer  approach  to  God,  and  a 
steadier  faith  in  His  promises,  could  he  have 
rightly  met  these  difficulties.  The  faithful 
fellow-labourers,  who  hailed  him  on  his  arrival 
in  the  country,  and  had  proved  most  able  and 

(175) 


176 


GLEAMS. 


affectionate  counsellors  in  times  of  perplexity, 
retired  from  the  scene,  and  left  him  more  sensi- 
bly dependant  on  the  Divine  arm.  His  domes- 
tic sorrows  had  been  leading  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. To  his  correspondent  at  Bideford  he 
writes,  "  I  think  I  have  never  had  my  mind  so 
much  in  heaven  as  since  the  death  of  my  be- 
loved daughter.  Thus  our  gracious  God  makes 
all  things  to  work  together  for  good."  The 
death  of  his  parents,  too,  which  now  occurred, 
awoke  many  solemn  and  tender  recollections 
of  his  former  life  : — 

Journal. — "  June  20,  1826,  Lord^s-day. — 
Preached  in  the  evening,  from  Rev.  xiv.  13,  a 
funeral  sermon  for  my  honoured  mother.  She 
and  my  father  were  married  about  55  years, 
and,  I  think,  for  about  30  years  she  has  been 
a  disciple  of  Jesus.  For  four  or  five  years  she 
has  been  confined  almost  every  hour  to  her  bed, 
and  latterly  she  seemed  to  have  lost  all  recol- 
lection. A  few  hours  only  before  her  depar- 
ture she  had  the  use  of  her  reason  restored, 
and  she  began  to  pray.  Her  last  words  were 
*  Eliza,  pray  ;'  and  so  she  yielded  up  the  ghost, 
having  just  completed  her  80th  year.  Lord, 


GLEAMS. 


177 


give  me  grace  to  follow  Thee,  as  she  followed 
Thee.  Oh,  how  warm  was  her  love,  how  great 
her  attachment  to  the  Word  and  house  of  God ! 
May  all  her  relatives  be  like  her  !" 

^''December  11. — A  letter  from  my  niece 
states  that  my  dear  father  is  very  ill ;  that  she 
had  received  a  letter  from  him  on  one  week, 
and  on  the  next,  a  message,  that  he  was  not 
able  to  write." 

Perhaps  the  following  touching  passage  in  a 
letter  to  the  family  at  Loveacott  ought  not  to 
be  withheld  : — 

"  Often  have  I  exclaimed,  when  passing 
through  the  streets  of  this  splendid  city,  '  Oh 
that  all  was  right  with  my  father's  soul,  and 
that  he  considered  his  latter  end!'  I  am 
happy  to  think  there  is  any  change  of  a  con- 
soling nature  ;  but  we  want  things  to  be  very 
sure  for  ourselves  and  our  friends  before  we 
can  take  comfort  in  their  death.  People  who 
know  not  what  conversion  is,  take  it  for 
granted  that  all  their  friends  go  to  heaven, 
particularly  if  they  receive  the  sacrament  on 
their  death-bed  ;  but  we  know  how  deceptive 
all  these  tilings  are.  A  new  heart  and  a  right 
12 


178 


GLEAMS. 


spirit — a  creation  luito  holiness  by  the  Spirit 
of  Christ — is  what  we  need,  and  without  it  we 
must  perish."  He  was  not  without  reason  to 
hope  that  such  prayers  had  been  graciously 
answered  before  the  event  which  he  thus  re- 
cords : — "  In  the  afternoon,  received  a  letter 
announcing  the  death  of  my  dear  and  honoured 
father,  on  the  15th  December,  1826." 

Meanwhile,  the  peace  and  usefulness  of  the 
little  church  suffered  no  interruption.  "  I  am 
happy  to  inform  you,"  he  writes  to  his  faithful 
correspondent  in  Edinburgh,  "  that  a  few  have 
been  united  to  us  in  church  fellowship  since 
Dr.  Paterson  left  us.  The  Lord  gives  us  un- 
bounded reason  for  thankfulness  for  personal 
and  domestic  comforts.  I  heard  from  good 
Princess  Metschersky  last  week.  She  is  at  her 
estates  near  Tver,  living  among  her  serfs,  and 
trying  to  do  them  all  the  good  in  her  power. 
I  never  perceived  her  heart  so  much  affected 
with  their  spiritual  misery  as  she  appears  now 
to  be.  She  is  capable  of  doing  much  to  en- 
lighten their  darkened  minds.  Oh,  Miss  Ross, 
how  shall  we  sufficiently  adore  the  Lord  for 
His  goodness  to  us  in  making  us  experiment- 


GLEAMS. 


179 


ally  acquainted  with  His  love  and  power,  in 
giving  us  to  taste  and  see  that  He  is  good ! 
How  shall  we  praise  that  matchless  Kedeemer 
who  undertook  our  cause,  and  gave  us  His 
Holy  Spirit  to  be  our  Comforter !  Is  it  not 
wonderful  that  w^e  think  so  little  of  it  ?  May 
we  in  future  feel  it  more,  and  exemplify  our 
attachment  to  Him  in  a  more  lively  manner. 
Amen." 

To  the  same  correspondent,  a  few  months 
later,  he  mentions  the  continued  prosperity  of 
one  of  the  most  useful  of  the  institutions : — 
"  The  gentlemen  of  the  committee  charged  me 
to  return  their  sincere  thanks  for  your  con- 
tinued favours  to  the  school ;  the  Lord  reward 
you,  and  all  who  contribute  to  its  support.  A 
few  days  since  we  had  our  annual  examination. 
Oh,  how  gratifying  was  the  sight !  Many  of 
the  young  people  attended  who  were  formerly 
scholars  with  us,  but  are  now  apprenticed  to 
various  tradesmen  in  the  city.  Their  appear- 
ance was  peculiarly  encouraging.  We  never 
had  so  many  children  in  attendance  as  we  now 
have.  Sometimes  there  are  sixty  girls  simul- 
taneously at  work  on  various  kinds  of  gar- 


180 


GLEAMS. 


ments  and  useful  articles  for  families.  They 
can  make  every  garment  usually  worn  by 
women,  which  enables  some  of  them  already 
to  support  themselves,  and  many  who  have  left 
the  school  support  also  their  friends." 

His  pastoral  vigilance  continued  to  be  at- 
tended by  many  encouraging  incidents.  "  On 
the  29th  of  June,  1826,"  lie  writes  to  the  Rev. 
J.  Arundel,  "  I  one  day  called  on  a  watch- 
maker, lately  become  pious,  to  ask  him  where 
I  could  buy  a  good  spy -glass.  '  If  you  want 
a  good  spy-glass,'  said  he,  '  I  should  like  to 
speak  with  you  on  that  subject.'  '  Proceed,  if 
you  please.'  '  The  summer  before  you  arrived, 
I  bought  a  beautiful  spy-glass  in  a  walking- 
stick,  for  my  amusement  on  Sundays  ;  but  God 
in  His  mercy  has  enabled  you  to  direct  me  to 
objects  more  glorious  than  that  glass  discovers. 
I  have  now  better  work  for  Sundays,  and  have 
no  further  use  for  the  glass.  I  beg  you  to  ac- 
cept it  as  a  trophy  of  the  grace  of  God  ;  keep 
it,  sir,  as  an  encouragement  in  your  labours  of 
love,  and  be  assured  that  it  was  only  the  same 
power  that  sent  the  Otaheitan  idols  to  the  Mis- 
sionary Museum  that  brought  that  glass  to 


(JLEAMS. 


181 


you.'  I  liave  it  as  a  valuable  and  precious 
testimony  to  the  power  of  God.  The  former 
owner  of  it  is  a  bright  Christian  ;  many  also 
of  his  relatives  have  become  pious." 

A  circumstance  of  a  similar  kind  affords  a 
lively  illustration  of  his  manner,  which  was  at 
once  kind,  bold,  and  discriminating.  A  Rus- 
sian whom  he  had  employed  in  the  capacity  ot 
a  tailor  having  called  one  day  when  he  was 
engaged  with  a  gentleman,  he  asked  him  to  sit 
down,-' handing  him  at  the  same  moment  a  tract 
in  the  English  language,  which  he  knew  he 
could  read. 

I  soon  returned,  and  paid  him  his  bill,  and 
as  he  was  going  away,  he  said — 

"  I  hope  you  are  pleased  with  your  coat  ?" 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  "  I  am  much  pleased  with 
my  coat ;  how  are  you  pleased  with  my 
book?" 

"Oh,"  said  he,  "I  never  trouble  myself 
about  books." 

"  Do  you  not  ?    I  am  sorry  for  that,  sir  ; 
you  are  getting  an  old  man,  and  if  you  do  not 
trouble  yourself  about  books,  I  fear  there  is 
something  else  which  you  neglect." 
16 


182 


GLEAMS. 


"  What  is  that,  sir  ?"  .  . 

"  Why,  your  precious  soul.  '  And  what  is  a 
man  profited,  if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and 
lose  his  own  soul  ?  or  what  shall  a  man  give  in 
exchange  for  his  soul  ?" 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  I  guess  what  you  mean  ; 
you  think  I  ought  to  become  religious." 

"  Yes,  that  is  it." 

"  Bless  you,  sir,"  he  replied,  "  it  would  be 
impossible  for  me  to  carry  on  my  large  busi- 
ness if  I  were  religious." 

"  You  astonish  me,  sir.  How  would  religion 
interfere  with  your  business  ?" 

"  Why,  if  I  were  religious,  then  I  must  go  to 
church  on  Sundays." 

"  To  be  sure  you  would  ;  aye,  and  you  would 
rejoice  when  Sunday  came,  that  you  might  hear 
something  of  God  and  salvation." 

"  I  tell  you,  sir,  that  would  be  impossible 
with  my  business.  I  have  thirty  men,  and  I 
pay  most  of  my  bills,  and  receive  most  of  my 
money,  on  Sunday  ;  it  is  my  busiest  day." 

"  What !  do  you  never  go  to  church  ?" 

''Never." 

"  This  is  worse  and  worse,  sir.    You  say 


GLEAMS. 


183 


you  do  not  read  good  books,  and  you  do  not 
go  to  church  ;  depend  upon  it  you  are  going  to 
hell.  I  have  long  tliought  that  no  man  would 
go  to  heaven  merely  because  he  read  the  Bible 
and  went  to  church  ;  but  I  am  deeply  con- 
vinced that  the  man  who  neglects  these  things 
is  not  going  to  heaven.  How  can  you  live  so  ? 
Do  you  not  believe  there  is  a  God 

At  this  he  looked  angrily  at  me,  and  said, 
"  God,  sir  !  God  !    Have  you  ever  seen  God 

At  this  I  trembled  to  think  how  far  down  a 
man  might  sink  in  his  iniquity,  and  I  replied 
— "  I  have  not  seen  God,  but  I  have  seen  you, 
and  you  are  one  of  God's  works." 

"  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  when  you  meet  with 
any  one  who  has  seen  God,  please  to  let  me 
know  it.    Good  morning,  sir." 

The  old  man  then  took  his  leave,  and  I  saw  him 
no  more  until  I  met  him  at  the  funeral  of  the 
friend  who  had  introduced  him  to  me.  This 
excellent  man  was  seized  with  typhus  fever, 
and  died  ;  and  great  lamentation  was  made 
over  him.  The  funeral  sermon  was  numerous- 
ly attended,  and  among  them  I  saw  the  Rus- 
sian tailor,  and  the  tears  rolling  down  his 


184 


(JLEAMS. 


aged  cheeks,  but  I  could  not  tell  whether  it 
was  anything  that  I  said,  or  the  death  of  my 
friend  that  so  deeply  affected  liim.  On  the 
following  Sabbath,  I  saw  him  present  again  ; 
on  the  second  Sabbath  again  ;  and  on  the  third 
Sabbath  again.  This  was  very  strange  to  see  ; 
yet  I  was  afraid  to  call  upon  him,  lest  he 
miglit  take  the  alarm  and  keep  away  al- 
together ;  but  I  said  to  one  of  my  friends, 
"  Did  you  see  Mr.  B  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  he  ;  "  I  can  tell  you  something 
very  interesting  about  that  old  man." 

"  Indeed !  what,  sir  ?" 

"  He  has  purchased  an  English  Bible,  and 
says  he  is  determined  to  read  it  ;  yes,  and  to 
read  it  all  through,  to  see  whether  what  you 
say  is  true  or  not.'' 

"  Then,"  said  I,  "  there  is  hope  of  him. 
There  is  always  hope  of  a  man  when  he  begins 
to  read  the  Bible  with  attention." 

I  now  found  him  a  constant  attendant  on 
week-days  as  well  as  Lord's-days,  and  I  often 
saw  his  countenance  lighted  up  with  joy  ;  but 
I  never  spoke  to  him  until  one  Saturday  night 
I  was  sitting  in  my  study,  when  my  wife 


GLEAMS. 


185 


catered,  saying,  "  There  is  a  stranger  inquiring 
for  YOU." 

Who  is  it?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  but  I  think  it  is  the  Rus- 
sian tailor." 

So  I  walked  out,  and  there  I  saw  him.  He 
began  :  "  Saturday  night  is  not  just  the  time 
to  call  on  you,  Mr.  Knill,  but  I  have  a  little 
business." 

"  What  business,  sir  ?" 

"  One  of  your  hearers  wished  to  present 
you  with  a  new  coat,  and  I  have  brought  it ; 
I  hope  you  will  not  be  angry." 

I  answered — "  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of 
being  angry  with  any  person,  but  especially 
with  one  who  would  give  me  a  new  coat  ; 
pray,  what  kind  and  considerate  friend  has 
done  this  ?" 

"Ah,"  said  he,  "  that  is  a  part  of  the  busi- 
ness ;  he  will  not  tell  you  his  name." 

"  Is  it  a  young  man  ?" 

He  answered — No." 

"Is  it  an  old  man  ?" 

"  Yes,  an  old  man  with  a  grey  head." 

There  he  stood  by  my  side,  with  his  hair  as 
16* 


186 


GLEAMS. 


white  as  milk,  but  I  had  no  conception  that  he 
was  the  man. 

"Perhaps,  sir,  you  will  tell  my  w^ife  who  it 
^Yas  r 

"  Yes,  I  am  not  bound  to  keep  it  from  her." 

So  I  left  them,  and  he  told  my  wife  that  he 
was  the  person  who  had  given  me  this  coat. 
Of  course,  I  soon  knew  it  ;  and  very  peculiar 
were  the  feelings  produced  in  my  mind  by  the 
transaction. 

"  Xow,  sir,  I  know  who  my  benefactor  is, 
and  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  this  kind- 
ness ;  but  do  tell  me  what  induced  you  to  give 
me  the  coat  ?" 

At  this  he  burst  into  tears,  and  said — "  Ah, 
sir,  if  God  had  not  changed  my  heart  I  never 
should  have  thought  of  giving  you  the  coat." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  I,  "  for  this  explanation, 
and  if  it  be  connected  with  a  change  of  heart, 
then  the  coat  is  invaluable." 

He  then  gave  me  a  striking  proof  that  his 
heart  was  changed  indeed.  He  began  to  con- 
sult me  about  the  spiritual  good  of  his  people. 

I  want  to  ask  you,  sir,  what  I  should  do 
for  my  men?    I  feel  very  much  about  their 


GLEAMS.  187 

souls.  What  do  you  think  I  should  do  for 
them  ?  Should  I  give  them  copies  of  the 
Testament  ?" 

I  was  delighted  to  behold  this  mark  of 
spiritual  life,  and  urged  him  by  all  means  to 
give  them  the  Scriptures.  This  encouraged 
him.  His  youth  seemed  renewed  like  the 
eagles'.  He  ran  home,  and  called  his  men 
together,  and  said  to  them — "  Can  you  read  V 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  read  Swedish." 

To  another — "  Can  you  read?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  read  German." 

To  a  third—"  Can  you  read  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  read  Finnish." 

To  a  fourth—"  Can  you  read  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  read  Russ." 

Having  ascertained  how  many  of  his  people 
could  read,  and  in  what  languages,  he  came  to 
me  again,  saying—"  Now,  sir,  so  many  books 
in  so  many  languages  ;  for  I  am  resolved  that 
no  man  shall  remain  in  my  employ,  who  is 
able  to  read,  without  a  copy  of  the  blessed 
New  Testament." 

"  The  inquiry  he  thus  made  led  to  another 
discovery.    He  not  only  found  out  who  could 


188 


GLEAMS. 


read,  but  he  also  found  out  who  could  not  read, 
and  for  them  he  bought  spelling-books,  and  set 
the  readers  to  teach  them ;  for  he  also  resolved 
that  every  man  and  boy  in  his  works  who 
could  not  read  should  be  instructed. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  he  usually ^spent  half 
an  hour  in  the  evening  with  them  in  reading 
and  expounding  the  Scriptures.  The  sight  was 
at  once  novel,  amusing,  and  affecting.  The  old 
man  would  fix  upon  a  chapter,  then  they 
would  all  read  the  same  verse  in  their  differ- 
ent languages,  and  then  the  master  would 
give  them  a  short  exposition  of  it  in  the 
Russian  language,  which  they  all  understood. 
By  this  means  his  house  passed  through  as 
great  a  change  as  the  master.  Instead  of 
being  polluted  with  worldly  occupations  on 
the  Lord's-day,  now  every  day  was  turned  into 
a  Sabbath.  Prayer,  and  praise,  and  religious 
instruction  were  carried  on  daily.  The  voice 
of  joy,  thanksgiving,  and  praise,  was  heard  in 
the  tabernacle  of  the  righteous.''^ 

In  the  midst  of  these  and  other  evidences 
of  the  Divine  blessing,  which  cheered  his 

*  "The  Russian  Tailor.''    Eeligioiis  Tract  Societj. 


GLEAMS. 


naturally  trustful  and  hopeful  spirit,  the  year 
approached  its  close. 

^'Decemher  26. — Mr.  Mirrielees  has  arrived 
from  Moscow,  and  gives  a  very  interesting 
account  of  all  our  friends.  It  is  now  finally 
settled  ( D.  V.)  that  Mr.  Parkinson  shall  leave 
for  Rotherham  College,  about  June  next.  Thus 
from  our  dear  little  congregation,  Mr.  Ton 
Essen,  Mr.  James  Lyon,  and  Mr.  Parkinson 
have  chosen  that  blessed  work,  which  surely 
is  to  be  preferred  above  all  others. — Gracious 
Lord,  Thou  hast  all  fulness  in  Thyself ;  in 
mercy  supply  these  Thy  servants  out  of  Thy 
infinite  store.  Amen. 

"  Wednesday,  29. — Preached  in  the  evening 
on  those  beautiful  words,  '  Thou  crownest  the 
year  with  Thy  goodness,'  and  it  becomes  me 
to  look  back  with  gratitude  on  a  year  of 
mercies. 

"  Blessed  be  Thy  holy  name,  for  every  tem- 
poral comfort  and  every  domestic  blessing  : 
for  the  means  of  grace — precious  Sabbaths 
and  sacramental  feasts — not  one  of  which  has 
failed  ;  for  help  from  dear  Dr.  Paterson  when 
I  was  sick ;  for  several  excellent  persons  added 


190 


GLEAMS. 


to  the  Church,  and  for  others  who  give  evi 
dence  of  a  concern  for  their  souls.  0  my  God 
and  Father,  my  Saviour,  Friend,  and  Portion, 
bless  Thou  my  dear  people — cause  true  and 
undefiled  religion  to  increase  and  flourish  T' 


CHAPTER  YIII. 


*'  "VTho  best 
Can  suffer,  best  can  do ;  best  reign  who  first 
Well  hath  obeyed." 

Milton. 


a9i) 


BLUE  SKIES. 


Two  years  from  the  period  of  the  Bible 
Society's  suppression  liad  scarcely  passed,  be- 
fore the  darkness,  whicli  then  threatened  to 
close  in  upon  all  evangelical  efforts  in  the 
country,  began  to  clear  away,  and  to  disclose 
a  field  of  exertion  somewhat  proportioned  to 
Mr.  KnilFs  large  desires  and  irrepressible 
energy.  Such  a  blessing  could  have  come 
only  to  the  watchfulness  and  patience  of  true 
faith.  The  haste  of  an  indevout  zeal  would 
have  been  fatal  to  its  approach ;  for,  while  the 
law  had  not  forbidden  the  circulation  of  exist- 
ing copies  of  the  Scriptures  in  any  language, 
a  premature  activity  would  have  excited  alarm 
and  opposition.  When  the  right  time  came, 
the  prison  doors  were  opened  as  by  the  touch 
of  an  angel.  Mr.  Knill's  review  of  the  cir- 
cumstances is  as  follows 

"After  the  departure  of  my  honoured  friends, 
n  13  (193) 


194 


BLUE  SKIES. 


Drs.  Paterson,  Pinkertoii,  and  Henderson,  tlie 
Bible  Society's  house  was  transferred  to  other 
hands,  and  tens  of  thousands  of  precious  books 
were  shut  up  in  warehouses ;  a  small  depot 
being  kept  open,  and  a  poor  monk  put  in 
charge  to  sell  them.  Few  persons  seemed  to 
have  courage  to  ask  for  a  book  ;  but  God, 
who  is  'wonderful  in  counsel  and  excellent  in 
working,'  at  last  raised  up  an  instrumentality 
to  bring  out  the  buried  treasure.  There  is  a 
small  island  in  the  Baltic  called  Hogland, 
containing  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  who 
subsist  chiefly  by  fishing.  They  speak  the 
Finnish  language,  and  belong,  nominally,  to  the 
Lutheran  Church.  They  had  neither  doctor 
nor  minister  among  them,  when  a  pious  young 
Lutheran  clergyman,  hearing  of  their  situa- 
tion, hired  a  small  vessel  in  order  to  visit 
them.  As  the  little  bark  nearcd  the  island, 
the  adults  came  to  the  landing-place,  to  see 
what  he  wanted.  '  I  want,'  said  he,  '  to  see 
all  the  grown-up  people  in  the  island  ;  call 
them,  for  I  have  a  message  to  deliver.'  The 
people  collected,  and  he  preached  to  them,  for 
about  an  liour,  on  the  words,  'Behold,  I  bring 


BLUE  SKIE.^, 


195 


you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  whicli  shall  be 
unto  all  people.  For  unto  you  is  born  this 
day  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord/  The 
people  were  astonished  and  delighted,  and,  at 
the  close  of  his  address,  said — '  This  is  an 
angel.  Oh  !  will  you  stay  among  us,  and  be 
our  pastor  ?  If  you  will,  we  shall  give  you 
fish,  and  oil,  and  candles,  which  is  all  we 
have. 

"  He  was  not  a  little  pleased  with  his  '  en- 
trance  in  unto  them,' but  replied,  '  I  cannot  live 
upon  what  you  kindly  offer,  but  I  will  go  to 
St.  Petersburg  and  see  if  I  can  get  a  few 
friends  to  help  me,  and,  if  I  succeed,  I  will 
come  back  to  you.'  He  then  took  leave,  and 
started  for  St.  Petersburg  ;  told  liis  story  to 
Madam  Gotzen,  the  widow  of  an  admiral,  who 
often  attended  my  ministry,  and  asked,  '  Will 
you  support  me  ?'  The  lady  said,  '  Mr.  Knill 
is  often  speaking  on  such  subjects  to  his  con- 
gregation, and  I  think,  if  I  call  and  inform 
him  about  it,  his  people  will  stand  by  you.' 
*  Yes,'  I  replied,  Avhen  she  came  to  me, '  I  know 
they  will ;  I  know  my  men,  and  I  never  ap- 
plied in  vain.'    The  admiral's  widow  went  to 


196 


BLUE  SKIES. 


encourage  the  missionary,  and  I  set  off  to  my 
pious  and  devoted  friends.  They  immediately 
subscribed  what  was  needful,  and  he  sailed 
soon  for  the  island,  leaving  two  boxes  in  my 
possession,  which  I  was  to  send  by  a  vessel  a 
few  weeks  after.  I  was  preparing  his  boxes, 
putting  in  clothes,  medicines,  and  other  need- 
fuls, and,  on  the  top,  some  Finnish  Bibles,  with 
which  Mrs.  Mirrielees  had  furnished  me.  Now 
came  the  memorable  moment.  Just  as  the 
Bibles  were  passing  through  my  hands,  a  milk- 
maid from  a  village  called  with  milk.  As  she 
passed  me,  I  said,  '  Good  woman,  can  you 
read  V  '  Yes,  sir,  in  my  own  language.' 
'  What  language  is  it?' 
" '  The  Finnish.' 

"  '  Oh,  here  is  a  Finnish  Bible  ;  read  the  23d 
Psalm.' 

"  She  read  very  fluently  until  she  came  to  the 
words,  '  Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil  : 
for  thou  art  with  me  ;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff 
they  comfort  me,'  and  then  her  voice  faltered  ; 
she  began  to  weep,  and  returned  to  me  the 
book.    '  Have  you  a  Bible  ?'  I  inquired. 


BLUE  SKIES. 


197 


" '  No,  sir  ;  I  never  had  money  enough  to 
buy  one/ 

"  '  How  much  money  liave  you  now  V 
"  '  Only  a  ruble'  (lOd.) 

" '  Then  give  me/  I  said,  '  the  ruble,  and  I 
will  give  you  the  book.' 

She  looked  at  me  with  astonishment,  but  I 
said  I  meant  what  I  told  her,  when  sh'e  fumbled 
in  her  dress  for  the  ruble,  and  gave  it  to  me, 
and  I  handed  her  the  Bible.  The  ecstasy  of 
the  woman  cannot  be  described.  She  looked 
at  it,  opened  it,  shut  it,  and  looked  again,  then 
pressed  it  to  her  heart,  kissed  it,  and  burst 
into  tears.  Seeing  her  so  delighted,  I  said — 
*  Have  your  neighbours  any  Bibles  ?' 

"  '  I  believe  not,'  she  replied  ;  '  I  never  saw 
one  among  them.' 

"  '  Well,  tell  them  of  this,  and  inform  them 
they  may  have  a  Bible  for  a  ruble  too.' 

"'May  I?'  she  exclaimed,  and  away  she 
went. 

"  It  happened  to  be  market-day,  when  great 
crowds  assemble.    She  rushed  in  amono^  the 
people,  and  holding  up  her  book,  cried,  '  A 
Bible!'    'Where  did  you  get  it?' came  from 
17^ 


198 


BLUE  SKIES. 


numerous  voices.  '  From  a  foreign  pastor.' 
'What  cost  it?'  'X  ruble.'  'Impossible!' 
*  No,'  said  the  milkmaid,  '  for  the  man  told  me 
to  say  that,  if  you  wished  for  one,  you  may 
have  it  at  the  same  price.'  On  hearing  that, 
they  took  her  Bible  from  her,  and  gave  her  two 
rubles,  saying,  '  Get  two  Bibles  for  these  two 
rubles,  and  we  will  give  your  Bible  back  again, 
and  something  for  your  trouble  ;  but  if  not, 
we  will  keep  this,  because  you  have  deceived 
us.' 

"  The  poor  creature  came  back  to  me,  weep- 
ing, to  relate  the  story.  But  I  gave  her  the 
two  books,  and  said,  '  Continue  to  tell  your 
neighbours  of  it.'  She  did  so,  and  the  news 
flew  on  the  wings  of  the  wind.  The  people 
went  home  that  day  with  a  new  story,  and  my 
house  was  soon  beset  witli  customers.  Persons 
who  had  to  travel  fifty  versts  (thirty-three 
miles)  were  at  my  house  at  tlie  break  of  day, 
to  make  sure  of  a  copy." 

The  emotions  which  this  work  awoke  are 
indicated  in  many  sentences  of  the  Journal, 
such  as  these  : — 

''October  25,  1828.— Ordered  another  hun- 


BLUE  SKIES. 


199 


dred  copies  of  Finnish  Bibles.  The  glad 
tidings  are  spreading,  and  the  people  welcome 
the  joyful  sound.  Lord,  bless  the  precious 
Word,  and  make  it  a  guide  to  heaven  to  every 
one  who  possesses  it !  Several  of  my  friends 
begin  to  help  me  in  this  benevolent  work." 

"  21th. — Wrote  to  Dr.  Pinkerton  to  request 
him  to  send  me  £10  to  help  forward  the  glori- 
ous work.  Two  hundred  Bibles  are  sold  this 
week." 

Noveviiber  10. — Sent  for  one  hundred  Bibles. 
This  has  been  a  remarkable  week.  The  Lord 
has  blessed  me  with  many  mercies  ;  at  present, 
that  which  appears  to  me  the  chief  mercy,  is 
the  privilege  of  circulating  the  Holy  Word. 
To  whom  can  I  go  for  aid,  but  to  the  friends 
of  the  Bible?  Lord,  incline  their  hearts  to 
help  me,  and  crown  the  whole  with  thy  bless- 
ing !  I  am  now  in  the  seventh  hundred,  and 
they  are  nearly  gone.  More  than  seventy  have 
been  sold  to-day." 

"  — Bought  another  hundred  Bibles. 
Preached  in  the  evening  from  Psalm  116, 
'  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his 
mercies  towards  me ! '  " 


200 


BLUE  SKIES. 


19^/?. — The  poor  Fins  arc  still  coming  in 
great  numbers  for  Bibles  ;  but  there  are  no 
more.  Oh,  how  grievous  to  see  them  go  away 
without  the  blessed  book !  My  God  and 
Father,  I  bless  Thee  for  enabling  me  to  circu- 
late so  many.  Sanctify  Thine  own  "Word,  0 
Lord ! 

His  faith  had  often  been  put  to  tlie  test. 
"  One  day,"  he  says,  "  there  had  been  a  great 
run,  and  I  was  at  a  loss  what  to  do.  I  went 
to  my  wife  and  said  I  was  in  trouble. 

"  '  AVhat  is  the  matter  ?' 

"  '  I  can  never  meet  the  demands  of  the  Fins 
at  the  rate  I  have  fixed,  for  they  are  coming 
upon  us  like  bees.  But  if  I  do  not  fulfil  my 
promise,  I  am  undone.' 

"  She  very  calmly  replied,  *  It  is  God's  book 
and  God's  work,  and,  depend  upon  it.  He  will 
help  us.    Go  on.' 

"  Being  thus  encouraged,  I  put  a  hundred 
rubles  in  my  pocket,  and  was  on  my  way  for 
more  Bibles,  when  the  thought  struck  me  that 
fifty  rubles  would  be  enough  for  me  in  the  cir- 
cumstances, and  with  the  claims  of  my  family. 
At  that  moment,  passing  the  end  of  a  street,  1 


BLUE  SKIES. 


201 


lifted  up  my  eyes,  and  saw  a  funeral.  It  was 
enough.  That  funeral  preached  me  a  sermon 
from  the  text,  '  Whatsoever  thy  hand  fmdeth 
to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might ;  for  there  is  no 
work  nor  device  in  the  grave,  whither  tliou 
goest.'  I  felt  ashamed  and  humbled  at  the 
thought  which  had  been  working  in  my  breast, 
and  went  off,  and  invested  my  money  in  the 
Bibles.  Then  I  drew  np  a  short  letter,  and 
sent  it  round  to  my  friends,  to  ask  their  coopera- 
tion, when  the  Lord  did  help  us,  for  in  a  short 
time  the  money  came  in,  and  in  six  weeks  I 
sold  800  volumes." 

"  In  distributing  the  Bible  among  strangers,'^ 
he  remarks  in  a  letter,  "  it  is  not  likely  we  sliall 
know  much  of  the  effects  produced  by  them 
while  we  remain  in  the  present  world  ;  but  a 
few  happy  instances  have  occurred  within  my 
own  circle,  which  may  be  considered  a  fair 
specimen  of  what  others  may  have  observed. 
One  of  the  most  efficient  of  my  numerous  help- 
ers is  a  young  officer,  who  spends  almost  every 
holiday  among  the  poor  in  the  distant  villages. 
To  these  poor  people  he  carries  New  Testa- 
ments and  tracts,  and  sometimes  travels  fifty, 


202 


BLUE  SKIES. 


eighty,  or  even  a  liundred  vcrsts  a  day  in  his 
labours  of  love.  In  one  of  his  excursions  he 
met  with  a  very  pious  Fin.  My  young  friend 
said  to  hira,  '  I  rejoice  to  hear  and  see  these 
things  in  this  little  cottage  ;  pray,  how  long 
have  you  been  a  partaker  of  this  felicity ! ' 
'  0  sir,'  said  the  cottager,  '  I  am  only  a  young 
Christian.  Once  I  was  addicted  to  drunken- 
ness— the  common  sin  of  our  people.  But  last 
year  I  heard  of  Bibles  selling  at  a  cheap  rate 
at  Pastor  Knill's.  Wishing  to  have  a  Bible  as 
well  as  my  neighbours,  I  bouglit  the  book,  and 
God  has  blessed  it  to  my  soul,  yea,  and  to  my 
wife's  also.  There  is  no  intemperance  in  our 
house  now,  sir.' 

"  Again.  A  man,  whose  birthplace  is  far 
distant,  came  hither  in  the  spring,  and,  calling 
at  my  house,  bought  a  New  Testament,  which 
he  took  to  his  lodgings,  where  thirty  other  men 
boarded  and  lodged.  Last  week  he  called 
again  to  purchase  more  books.  He  said  to 
Mrs.  Knill,  '  You  have  no  idea  of  the  blessing 
that  book  has  been  which  I  bought  in  the 
spring.  At  that  time  every  night  was  spent  at 
cards,  and  in  drunkenness  ;  but  now  the  scene 


BLUE  SKIES. 


203 


is  completely  changed.  We  assemble  every 
night  around  the  man  who  reads  the  Word  of 
God,  and  cards  and  drink  are  shut  out  of  the 
place.' 

"  We  do  all  we  can/''  he  adds,  in  the  letter 
in  which  these  facts  are  mentioned,  "  to  pro- 
mote this  blessed  work  in  a  quiet  and  unofficial 
manner.  The  wisdom  of  the  serpent  is  needed, 
as  well  as  the  innocence  of  the  dove.  Pray 
for  us,  that  the  Word  of  God  may  run  and  be 
glorified,  'even  as  it  is  with  you.'" 

This  busy  and  prosperous  year  closes,  and 
another  opens  with  the  following  entries  : — 

"  December  31, 1828.— 0  my  God  and  Father, 
all  these  things  concur  to  increase  my  debt  of 
gratitude  !  By  Thy  grace  I  am  what  I  am. 
Thy  bounty  feeds  and  clothes  me,  and  every 
good  and  perfect  gift  cometh  down  from  Thee. 
I  feel,  0  Lord,  that  in  every  thing  I  am  de- 
ficient. I  end  the  year  lamenting  over  my 
cold  and  selfish  heart,  yet  adoring  Thy  ricli, 
free,  and  sovereign  love.  Hallelujah. 

JamiavT/ 1,  IS'29. — Xew-year's  Day.  The 
goodness  of  God  to  me  is  very  great.  Few 
among  the  human  race  have  so  much  reason 
12* 


204 


BLUE  SKIES. 


for  gratitude.  Lord,  liavc  mercy  upon  me,  and 
help  me  to  honour  Thee  !  Let  my  services  be 
acceptable  in  Thy  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ, 
my  Lord.  Make  this  year  peculiarly  useful  in 
the  conversion  of  sinners ;  tlie  increase  of 
piety  among  true  believers  ;  the  zeal  of  the 
Church  ;  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures and  other  good  books,  and  the  prosper- 
ity of  all  things  connected  -^-ith  Thy  cause. 
Oil,  prosper  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us 
— the  work  of  our  hands.  Lord,  prosper  Thou 
it!" 

The  circulation  of  Bibles  in  the  languages  of 
the  foreign  populations  of  the  empire  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  blessing  still  less  anticipated  in 
the  dispersion  of  the  Russian  Testaments  lying 
buried  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Holy 
Synod.  Though  no  edict  forbade  the  purchase 
of  these  books,  the  old  monk  left  in  charge  of 
them  held  but  a  nominal  office.  His  peace  was 
invaded  in  the  following  manner  : 

"  A  young  person  in  my  congregation,  who 
♦  was  converted  to  God,  and  threw  a  great  deal 
of  energy  into  her  religion,  one  morning  called 
on  me,  and  said,  '  Xext  week  is  my  name's  day, 


BLUE 


2U5 


and  our  servants  will  expect  a  present.  They 
can  all  read,  and  what  can  I  give  them  so  good 
as  a  Russian  Testament?' 
'  Nothing/  I  replied. 

'  Well,  will  you  please  to  get  some  Russian 
Testaments  for  me  ?  ' 

"  '  I  will  try,'  I  responded  ;  and  set  off  with 
a  light  heart  to  the  dear  old  Bible  House. 

'  Can  I  have  some  Russian  Testaments  ? '  I 
inquired,  cautiously. 

" '  Yes,  said  the  keeper  ;  '  you  can  have 
10,000  this  week,  and  10,000  next  week,  if  you 
please.  The  damp  is  rotting  and  the  moth 
devouring  them.' 

"  Alas  !  I  thought  on  my  way  home,  this  is 
dreadful !  Oh,  that  I  could  indeed  get  out 
10,000  !  It  soon  occurred  to  me  that  we  had 
one  warm  friend  in  Scotland,  who  had  taken 
an  interest  especially  in  the  Jewish  children  of 
the  schools,  and  had  written  in  a  way  which 
convinced  me  she  had  much  love  to  God.  This, 
I  thought,  is  the  friend  to  apply  to  in  tliis  emer- 
gency. I  gave  her  an  account  of  what  w^e  had 
been  doing,  and  what  we  wished  to  do,  and 
said  that,  if  she  could  set  us  agoing  with  XI 0, 


206 


BLUE  SKIES. 


we  should  not,  when  once  in  motion,  soon 
stop." 

Journal. — '^January  31,  1829. — To  the 
glory  of  God  be  it  recorded,  that  I  this  day- 
received  a  letter  from  dear  Miss  Eoss  of  Edin- 
burgh, in  answer  to  mine  of  the  17th  of  Np- 
vember,  authorizing  me  to  draw  for  .£50  to 
carry  on  the  delightful  work  of  circulating  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  0  my  soul,  never  forget 
this  loving  kindness  ;  let  it  encourage  thee 
and  stimulate  thee  to  be  steadfast,  unmovable, 
always  abounding  in  the  blessed  Master's 
work,  nothing  doubting  that  He  will  raise  up 
friends  to  aid  His  own  cause." 

"  I  asked  you,"  he  writes  to  this  lady,  for 
<£10,  and  you  sent  me  £50,  which  made  me 
feel  in  a  very  remarkable  manner  that  the 
Lord  was  with  me.  I  knelt  down  and  adored 
Him,  and  entreated  blessings  for  you  and  for 
the  friends  who  might  have  helped  you  to  send 
so  large  a  sum.  I  soon  communicated  the 
glad  tidings  to  tliose  excellent  friends  who  are 
my  coadjutors  in  every  good  work,  and  they 
have  assisted  me  in  giving  an  extensive  circu- 
lation to  the  precious  Word.    About  thirty 


BLUE  SKIES. 


207 


copies  a-day  for  the  last  two  weeks  has  been 
the  average  demand.  I  liave  sold  forty  to-day 
with  my  own  hands." 

"  Among  many  pleasing  instances  of  useful- 
ness, one  is  that  of  a  Russian  servant  in  my 
own  house.  When  she  first  came  to  us,  she 
could  read  a  little,  and  my  wife  encouraged 
her  to  persevere,  and  for  this  purpose  a  Psalter 
and  Testament  were  given  to  her.  She  seemed 
to  take  great  delight  in  reading,  and  we  were 
gratified  to  perceive  how  she  improved  every 
spare  -moment  for  this  sacred  employ.  The 
first  time  she  evinced  any  emotion  was  one 
evening  when  she  had  been  reading  the  liistory 
of  Cornelius.  She  came  to  my  wife  with  an 
anxious  and  inquiring  look,  and  said,  'Please 
to  explain  this  to  me  :  Cornelius  fasted,  prayed 
to  God  always,  and  gave  much  alms  to  the 
people  ;  yet  he  was  commanded  to  send  for 
Peter  to  obtain  information  what  he  ought  to 
do.  Pray,  how  is  this  ?  What  could  he  do 
more?  Is  any  more  required  of  us  than  to 
pray,  give  alms,  and  keep  the  fast  V 

"  Mrs.  Knill  answered,  '  If  something  more 
had  not  been  necessary,  the  angel  would  not 


208 


BLUE  SKIES, 


have  commauded  it ;  therefore,  proceed  with 
the  narrative,  and  mark  what  Peter  said.'  She 
proceeded  ;  and  when  she  read  these  words, 
'  To  him  gave  all  the  prophets  witness,  that 
through  His  name,  whosoever  believeth  on  Him 
shall  have  remission  of  sins,'  the  poor  young 
creature  was  overcome.  She  burst  into  a  flood 
of  tears,  and  soon  exclaimed,  '  Xow,  I  see  it ; 
it  is  by  believiug  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  that 
we  obtain  forgiveness  of  sins.'  From  that  day 
to  this  her  delight  has  been  in  the  Scriptures. 
Her  diligence  in  business,  and  her  zeal  for  the 
salvation  of  her  relatives,  makes  her  very 
highly  esteemed  by  us  ;  and,  as  far  as  we  can 
judge,  she  adorns  the  doctrine  of  God  her 
Saviour  in  all  tilings.  Erena,  which  was  the 
name  of  this  young  woman,  proved  a  great 
treasure  to  Mr.  Knill's  family. 

As  no  funds  existed  for  the  supply  of  Bibles, 
sold  considerably  under  the  cost  price,  Mr. 
Knill  was  obliged  to  add  to  the  labour  of  dis- 
tribution that  of  an  extensive  correspondence. 
In  the  following  letter  to  Joseph  Nunneley,  - 
Esq.,  of  Leicester,  a  general  view  is  given  of 
his  position  on  the  21st  May,  1829  : — 


BLUE  SKIES. 


209 


A  delightful  work  is  going  on  amongst  us, 
far,  very  far  beyond  what  I  ever  anticipated. 
The  Word  of  the  Lord  is  spreading  extensively 
amongst  people  who  had  not  possessed  a  copy 
of  the  Divine  volume  before,  many  of  whom 
had  scarcely  ever  heard  of  it,  and  who,  a  few 
years  ago,  were  unable  to  read.  During  the 
reign  of  the  Emperor  Alexander,  the  education 
of  the  lower  orders  became  an  object  of  con- 
sideration, and  tens  of  thousands  were  taught 
to  read.  This  was  a  notable  feature  in  the 
reign  of  xilexander,  and  it  is  an  animating 
thought  that  his  majesty  the  Emperor  Nicholas 
is  carrying  on  the  great  work  on  an  enlarged 
and  improved  scale.  By  this  means,  books 
will  be  more  and  more  called  for,  and  what 
more  important  than  the  Book  of  God? 
Blessed,  for  ever  blessed  be  His  holy  name  for 
giving  us  the  means,  the  disposition,  and  the 
opportunity  of  circulating  it ! 

"  In  my  last  to  you,  I  stated  that  800  Bibles 
had  been  sold,  since  which  time  I  have  circu- 
lated above  2,200  other  books,  some  Bibles, 
chiefly  New  Testaments,  and  a  few  hundred 
Psalters.  These  are  not  confined  to  any  par- 
18*  U 


210 


BLUE  SKIES. 


ticular  language,  but  embrace  the  Sclavouian, 
German,  Swedish,  Finnish,  Polish,  Esthonian, 
French,  and  English.  I  have  now  entered  on 
the  sale  of  the  fourth  thousand,  and,  by  the 
help  of  the  Lord  and  His  people,  shall  not 
cease  to  attempt  thousand  upon  thousand  until 
I  can  work  no  longer.  Please  to  accept  my 
grateful  acknowledgments  for  your  liberal  as- 
sistance. I  trust  the  Lord  will  bless  it  to  the 
good  of  many  a  poor  sinner.  It  was  a  time- 
ly aid  ;  for  though  I  wrote  eighteen  letters,  I 
received  an  answer  only  from  you  and  three 
others — the  Tract  Society,  Mr.  Lewis  of  Isling- 
ton, and  a  lady  of  Edinburgh  ;  but  I  have 
great  hopes  that  many  other  friends  have  by 
this  time  sent  me  something,  though  I  have 
not  yet  heard  from  them.  The  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  with  their  usual  gene- 
rosity, offered  me  500  copies  of  the  Finnish 
Testament,  but  I  have  declined  receiving 
hooks ;  it  might  be  dangerous.  Here  are 
books  in  abundance,  sanctioned  and  author- 
ized to  be  sold  ;  so  that,  in  circulating  them, 
I  violate  no  law.  But  strange  books  from 
other  countries  might  be  viewed  in  a  different 


BLUE  SKIES. 


211 


light.  I  hope,  however,  they  will  grant  me 
pecuniary  aid,  for  I  shall  soon  exhaust  the 
bounty  of  private  friends.  At  present  I  am 
about  £30  in  advance,  which  a  dear  friend 
here  has  lent  me,  and  I  am  proceeding  with 
the  work.  I  cannot  relax,  for  surely  the  Lord 
will  send  us  help  ;  He  began  the  work,  and 
hitherto  He  has  carried  it  on.  Will  He  now 
permit  it  to  cease  ?    I  think  not. 

"  I  assure  you,  dear  sir,  it  was  a  great  relief 
to  my  mind  to  see  this  door  of  usefulness  open- 
ing to  me  ;  for  my  congregation  is  very  small, 
and  most  of  them,  thanks  be  to  God,  are  pious. 
I  felt,  therefore,  that  something  was  needful  to 
afford  useful  occupation,  and  now  we  have  it. 
Several  of  my  little  flock  are  most  actively  evA- 
ployed  in  disposing  of  the  sacred  volume ; 
they  have  tasted  its  sweetness,  and  they  are  a? 
thankful  as  I  am  to  have  the  present  oppor- 
tunity.'' 

The  committee  of  the  Bible  Society,  recog- 
nizing the  propriety  of  Mr.  Knill's  unwilling- 
ness to  introduce  books  from  abroad,  very 
liberally  came  to  his  aid  with  money.  A  cor- 
rect estimate,  indeed,  cannot  be  formed  of  this 


212 


BLUE  SKIES. 


work,  without  keeping  in  view  the  peculiar 
union  of  boldness  and  caution,  of  energy  and 
self-control,  which  it  demanded,  and  which 
was  graciously  given  from  on  high.  A  few 
lines,  enclosing  letters  from  Siberia,  addressed 
to  the  Eev.  William  Orme,  on  the  12th  May, 
1830,  will  illustrate  this  : 

"  It  is  well  known  to  Dr.  Henderson,  and 
he  can  explain  it  much  better  than  can  be  done 
in  a  short  letter,  that  missionaries  in  this 
country  must  always  stand  on  very  precarious 
ground.  No  certainty  can  be  attaclied  to  their 
stay  for  an  liour.  People  who  have  never 
lived  here,  can  hardly  form  an  idea  of  the 
state  of  our  feelings  at  times,  tliough  I  ac- 
knowledge with  gratitude  that  I  have  never 
experienced  anything  but  kindness  since  my 
arrival  here,  nor,  I  think,  is  it  otherwise  with 
the  brethren  in  Siberia  ;  still  our  situation  is 
wliat  is  stated,  uncertain. 

"  Two  of  the  most  excellent  nnd  intelligent 
young  men  I  have  ever  seen — an  officer  in  tlie 
Russian  service,  and  an  English  physician — 
both  members  of  my  little  church,  were  lately 
apprehended  for  circulating  New  Testaments 


BLUE  SKIES. 


213 


and  tracts.  The  former  was  imprisoned,  and 
the  latter  was  sent  across  tlie  frontier,  banish- 
ed from  the  realm,  in  the  depth  of  winter,  at 
twenty-four  hours'  notice.  This  so  alarmed 
us,  that  we  did  not  know  what  to  do  ;  my 
name  was  associated  with  the  afiair  in  a  cer- 
tain degree,  as  I  had  supplied  them  with  the 
Scriptures,  and  they  belonged  to  my  congre- 
gation. This  they  stated  at  their  examination. 
I  therefore  expected  to  be  seized  every  hour, 
and  prepared  for  the  event.  But,  blessed  be 
God,  I  am  permitted  to  remain  ;  and  although 
there  was  an  interruption  for  some  time,  we 
have  circulated  2000  Testaments  and  Psalters 
during  the  last  three  months,  and  tracts  and 
school-books  in  great  numbers.  1  cannot  but 
mark  the  care  and  kindness  of  my  adorable 
Redeemer  in  this  matter.  Oh,  for  a  more  entire 
devotedness  to  Him 

In  the  review  of  this  period,  Mr.  Knill  could 
easily  have  replied  to  the  arguments  of  some 
who  questioned  the  necessity  of  two  English 
congregations  in  St.  Petersburg,  and  who  could 
appreciate  only  palpable  facts,  such  as  he  here 
enumerates. 


211: 


BLUE  SKIES. 


"  October  28,  1829.— Is  it  asked,  Have  you 
a  Bible  Society  ?  I  answer.  We  distributed 
about  6000  Bibles,  Psalters,  and  New  Testa- 
ments last  year.  Is  it  asked.  Have  you  a  Mis- 
sionary Society?  I  answer.  We  support  six 
native  teachers  in  India,  and  one  missionary 
printer  in  Georgia,  besides  sending  100  rubles 
annually,  for  general  missionary  purposes,  to 
the  London  Missionary  Society.  Is  it  asked. 
Have  you  a  School  Society  ?  Several  of  my 
congregation  keep  schools,  and  have  upwards 
of  200  children  under  their  tuition.  Is  it 
asked.  Have  you  a  Tract  Society  ?  I  answer, 
We  distribute  many  tracts  in  various  langua- 
ges, and  have  more  than  50,000  on  hand  for 
distribution.  Is  it  asked.  Have  you  a  School- 
book  Society  ?  I  answer,  We  furnish  hun- 
dreds of  people  with  the  authorized  school- 
books  of  the  country  at  a  low  price.  Is  it 
asked.  Do  you  provide  clothes  for  the  poor  ?  I 
answer.  We  have  a  Dorcas  Society,  by  which 
hundreds  are  clothed.  Is  it  asked,  Do  you 
take  care  of  the  sick  ?  I  answer.  We  have  two 
pious  doctors,  besides  other  friends,  who  give 
every  possible  attention  to  these. — 0  God,  the 


BLUE  SKIES. 


215 


author  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  what 
shall  I  render  to  Thee  for  all  these  mercies, 
and  all  these  favours  ?  How  blessed  is  the 
man  who  lives  among  so  devoted  and  loving  a 
people  1" 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Slrnktos  0f  tin  "§t$txlnct. 


"  The  tree 

Sucks  kindlier  nurture  from  a  soil  enriched 
By  its  own  fallen  leaves ;  and  man  is  made, 
In  heart  and  spirit,  from  deciduous  hopes, 
And  things  that  seem  to  perish." 

19 

(217) 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTHiENCE. 

Mr.  Knill  did  not  expect,  of  course,  that  his 
path  in  God's  service  would  long  remain  un- 
marked by  tribulation  ;  but  he  scarcely  antici- 
pated that  the  pestilence,  which  dismissed  him 
from  India,  would  confront  him  again  among 
the  snows  of  Russia.  Yet  that  terrible  mes- 
senger was  commissioned  to  give  a  sober 
colouring  to  all  the  transactions  of  the  two 
years  upon  which  we  now  enter,  and  finally  to 
cast  a  deep  shadow  over  his  cheerful  home. 
The  year  after  the  cholera  ravaged  the  penin- 
sula of  India,  it  proceeded  to  China,  and  the 
islands  of  the  adjacent  archipelago.  Three 
years  later,  it  entered  the  Russian  territory,  at 
Astrachan,  and,  having  warned  Europe,  with- 
drew for  seven  years.  At  the  close  of  that 
period  it  reappeared  in  the  same  city,  and, 
steadily  advancing  along  the  shore  of  the 
Volga,  reached  Moscow  in  the  autumn  of  1830, 
and  St.  Petersburg  in  the  summer  of  1831. 

(219) 


220         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


The  sense  of  the  presence  of  this  power  will 
make  itself  apparent  in  most  of  the  letters  and 
entries  now  to  be  quoted  ;  but  as  it  did  not  in- 
terrupt, but  rather  quickened  exertion,  the 
usual  record  of  the  mixed  occurrences  of  suc- 
cessive days,  will  convey  the  most  faithful 
picture  of  the  time.  Early  in  the  summer,  a 
family,  which  had  conferred  no  small  honour 
on  the  little  church,  and  had  contributed  incal- 
culably to  the  personal  happiness  of  Mr.  Knill, 
sailed  for  their  native  country. 

''June  25,1830. —  Wednesday. — At  five  this 
evening  I  set  off  in  Mr.  Baird's  steamer  for 
Cronstadt,  with  our  dear  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Venning,  on  their  way  to  England.  I  spent  a 
part  of  every  day  with  them  this  week,  break- 
fasted with  them  this  morning,  and  united  with 
them  for  the  last  time  in  prayer.  It  was  a 
most  affecting  season. — Lord,  sanctify  these 
trying  scenes !  I  know  Thou  art  able.  Oli 
yes  ;  Thou  canst  make  darkness  light  before 
us,  and  every  bitter  thing  sweet. — The  recol- 
lection of  what  they  have  done  for  me  calls  for 
my  deepest  gratitude,  and  the  knowledge  of 
the  good  they  have  received  from  my  ministry, 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


221 


should  ever  fill  my  heart  with  praise. — Paul 
plauteth,  ApoUos  watereth,  but  Thou,  0  God, 
givest  the  increase. — We  went  on  board  tlie 
Dutch  steamship,  which  is  to  carry  our  friends 
to  Travemunde,  and  at  half-past  nine  we  took 
an  affectionate  farewell,  and  left  them. — 0  my 
God,  do  Thou  be  ever  with  them,  to  guide, 
comfort,  strengthen,  and  make  them  very  use- 
ful. Wherever  they  go,  do  Thou  make  them 
to  shine  as  lights  in  the  world. 

''June  26.— At  Cronstadt.  Slept  little 
during  the  night ;  thouglit  being  busy  with  the 
dear  friends  from  whom  I  had  parted.  They 
have  been  for  many  years  the  most  kind, 
tender,  generous,  loving  friends  that  ever  I  had 
in  my  life,  and,  blessed  be  God,  their  love  in- 
creased rather  than  diminished,  as  our  separa- 
tion drew  near.  They  have  left  me  their 
house  to  dwell  in  for  a  season.  What  a  favour 
is  this  ! 

"  July  21. — Galernay  Street.  Many  and 
great  were  the  blessings  which  God  granted 
me  in  the  last  house.  Thousands  of  poor  sin- 
ners have  seen  or  lieard  of  that  house  in  the 
Fanarnay,  from  which  they  received  Bibles, 


222         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


Testaments,  Psalters,  prayer-books,  and  tracts. 
— Lord,  I  will  praise  Thee  for  that  mercy  ; 
graciously  grant  that  the  house  into  which  I 
have  now  entered  may  also  prove  to  be  a  house 
for  Thee.  It  has  already  been  a  '  house  of 
prayer,'  a  '  refuge  for  the  needy,'  and  '  as  the 
shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land.' 
Lord,  help  me  here  to  honour  Thee,  for  Jesus' 
sake. 

"  August  IL — Heard  from  the  Rev.  W.  Glen 
of  Astrachan.  Great  distress  prevailing  on 
account  of  the  cholera-morbus.  Mr.  G.  has 
told  me  where  to  find  his  will  in  case  of  his 
death. — Yet,  0  Lord,  preserve  him  to  advance 
Thy  glory.  Amen." 

Mr.  Knill  received  the  letter  referred  to  in 
this  notice  on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  and 
when  he  appeared  on  the  Sunday  niorning,  his 
people  instantly  perceived  its  effects  on  his 
countenance.  To  explain  himself,  he  read 
those  parts  of  it  which  described  the  entrance 
of  the  disease  into  the  Mission  House  at 
Astrachan  ;  how  it  struck  down  one  of  tlie 
missionaries,  and  then  the  wife  of  the  Sarepta 
Commissioner  ;  and  how,  after  the  funeral  of 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  223 

that  lad  J,  the  bereaved  husband,  fleeing  with 
his  three  motherless  children,  was  overtaken 
and  buried  by  the  roadside,  three  stages  from 
the  city.  The  painful  picture  was  relieved  by 
an  account  of  the  almost  miraculous  recovery 
of  Mrs.  Glen  ;  and  when  the  words  of  her 
husband  were  given,  "  I  cannot  tell  you  how  it 
comforted  me,  while  I  stood  in  awful  suspense 
by  her  side',  to  see  her  confidence  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  sinners,"  Mr. 
Knill  turned  to  the  congregation,  and  address- 
ed to  them  the  most  moving  appeals  to  make 
instant  preparation  for  meeting  God,  and 
closed  with  an  invitation  to  all  who  felt  that 
they  had  committed  themselves  to  Christ,  to 
commemorate,  with  the  church,  on  that  morn- 
ing, at  His  table.  His  dying  love.  "  It  was  a 
season,"  says  one  who  was  present,  not  to  be 
forgotten  ;  and,  after  the  lapse  of  nearly  thirty 
years,  is  still  fresh  on  the  page  of  memory." 

Septemher  15,  1830. — Held  a  meeting  at 
my  house  to  beseech  the  Lord  to  preserve  us 
from  the  cholera. 

"  September  21. — Remarkable  day.  In  the 
morning  a  man  from  the  hospital  came  for 


224         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILE^'CE. 


Hebreu^,  Tartar,  Finnish,  and  Russian  Testa- 
ments ;  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  supplying 
them. 

"  Septemher  28. — In  the  evening  preached  on 
the  ministry  of  angels  :  a  solemn  and  delight- 
ful theme  in  times  like  the  present,  when  men's 
hearts  are  failing  them  for  fear.  A  letter 
arrived  to-day  from  Mr.  Mirrielees,  dated  sixty 
versts  from  St.  Petersburg,  where  he  is  per- 
forming quarantine  ;  many  are  detained  there, 
and  many  more  at  the  next  station.  Every 
precaution  is  adopted  to  keep  the  cholera  from 
the  city.  Lord,  bless  the  measures  of  govern- 
ment, and  hear  our  prayers ! 

"  Septemher  29. — This  is  the  anniversary  of 
the  beginning  of  my  Bible  operations.  0 
Lord,  I  will  praise  Thee.  In  these  two  years 
nearly  14,000  have  been  circulated  ;  besides 
prayer-books,  school-books,  and  tracts,  to  the 
amazing  number  of  120,000  copies.  Sanctify 
this,  0  Lord,  to  the  good  of  families  and  indi- 
viduals, and  towns  and  villages.  Amen." 

The  tracts  to  which  reference  is  here  made 
were  those  which  had  been  prepared  by  the 
Princess  Metschersky.    This  excellent  person, 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  225 

"whose  name  has  now  several  times  occiuTed 
on  these  pages,  was  brought  to  a  knowledge 
of  Christ  during  the  residence  of  Mr.  (after- 
wards Dr.)  Pinkerton  as  a  tutor  in  her  family. 
While  he  instructed  her  daughters  she  remained 
in  the  room,  and  became  by  degrees  deeply 
interested  in  the  religious  ideas  which  he 
expressed.  She  was  thus  led  to  a  close  pri- 
vate examination  of  the  Scriptures,  and  at 
length  exclaimed  to  her  friend,  "  While  you 
have  taught  my  children,  the  Spirit  of  God 
has  taught  me."  From  that  time,  though  re- 
taining connexion  with  the  Greek  Church  in 
accordance  with  the  absolute  law  of  the  coun- 
try and  her  own  general  convictions,  she  sur- 
rendered her  property  and  fine  talents  to  the 
dissemination  of  the  gospel  in  her  native  land. 
Her  first  work  was  to  translate  into  Russian 
the  delightful  narratives  of  Legh  Richmond — 
'*  The  Negro  Servant,"  "  The  Young  Cottager," 
and  "  The  Dairyman's  Daughter and  her 
intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Emperor  Alex- 
ander enabled  her  to  put  these  translations, 
together  with  various  sermons  and  select  pas- 
sages from  the  writings  of  the  more  evangeli- 
1.5 


226         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


cal  authors  of  her  own  church,  into  extensive 
circulation.  Thej  were  finding  their  way  over 
the  length  and  breadth  of  Russia,  when  the 
opposition  of  the  priesthood  to  the  Bible  So- 
ciety took  a  visible  form.  Fearing  that  all 
was  over  at  that  period,  she  placed  the  entire 
stock,  amounting  to  about  200,000  copies,  in 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Knill,  by  whom  a  large  num- 
ber were  assorted  and  bound  in  volumes,  and 
all  of  them  at  length  so  skilfully  used,  tliat 
in  a  few  years  hardly  a  single  copy  remained 
on  the  shelves. 

Even  he  scarcely  ventured  to  hope  that 
while  the  ecclesiastical  temper  remained  as  it 
did,  any  of  those  narratives  would  be  reprinted. 
But  in  this,  as  in  many  other  instances,  the 
the  mercy  of  God  "  prevented  him.*'  A  few 
weeks  since,"  he  writes  to  Mr.  Alers  Hankey, 
on  the  14th  of  October,  1830,  "  I  had  one  of 
the  happiest  days  of  my  life.  TTe  had  applied 
for  permission  to  print  a  new  edition  of  Legh 
Eichmond's  '  Young  Cottager,'  and  were  kept 
in  suspense  for  many  days.  At  last  the  license 
came,  signed  and  sealed  by  the  spiritual  cen- 
sor, who  is  the  highest  authority  in  these  mat- 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  227 

ters.  It  was  translated  many  years  ago  by 
our  dear  Princess,  but  we  have  no  copies  on 
hand,  and  have  often  feared  that  we  should 
never  see  it  reprinted.  It  was  an  answer  to 
many  prayers,  and  when  it  came,  I  called  my 
family  together  to  praise  the  Lord  for  his  pecu- 
liar favour. 

"  Remembering  the  good  adage,  '  Make  hay 
while  the  sun  sliines,'  we  immediately  set  to 
work  to  print  an  edition  of  10,000  copies. 
The  kingdom  is  the  Lord's,  and  He  is  the 
governor  among  the  nations.  He  will  provide 
the  means.  I  have  paid  for  the  paper,  and  we 
are  expecting  the  needful  help  from  friends  to 
wliom  application  has  been  made.'' 

The  work  thus  recommenced  proceeded  most 
auspiciously.  Applications  made  to  the  cen- 
sor for  permission  to  issue  new  editions  and 
new  translations,  not  only  of  tracts,  but  of 
elementary  school-books  and  Scripture-lessons, 
were  received  with  uniform  favour.  In  some 
instances  in  which  leave  was  withheld,  the 
reasons  assigned  showed  so  correct  a  know  I- 
edge,  not  only  of  the  requirements  of  the  Rus- 
sian mind,  but  of  religious  truth,  that  the  re- 


228         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


fiisal  liad  a  greater  value  than  would  have 
belonged  to  an  indiscriminatuig  license. 

"  Last  week,"  he  writes  to  Mr.  Alers  Han- 
kej,  on  14th  October,  "  we  put  into  circulation 
1400  New  Testaments,  526  Psalters,  550  school- 
books,  and  6,700  tracts.  AYe  never  had  such 
a  week  before,  and  of  course  it  cannot  be  con- 
sidered an  average  specimen  of  our  labours.  I 
merely  mention  it  as  an  interesting  fact.  I 
sent  away  all  that  remained  of  the  '  Shepherd 
of  Salisbury  Plain.'  In  the  year  1819  the 
dear  Princess  Metschersky  printed  an  edition 
of  this  tract  at  her  own  expense,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  that  the  Lord  has  blessed  her  pious 
efforts,  for  it  was  a  favourite  book  with  the 
peasantry.  But  they  are  gone.  The  shelf  on 
which  they  stood  is  empty.  I  have  therefore 
reserved  two  copies  to  print  from,  and  one  I 
have  sent  to  Hannah  More,  its  celebrated 
authoress.  I  have  told  her  our  exact  situa- 
tion, and  implored  her  aid  to  print  another 
edition.  A  word  from  her  lips,  or  a  line  from 
her  pen,  to  the  opulent  friends  of  the  Redeem- 
er, would  quickly  procure  for  us  all  we  want." 

A  few  months  later,  he  says  to  another  cor- 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  229 

respondent,  "  In  the  autumn  I  wrote  to  that 
aged  disciple,  the  eminent  Hannah  More,  re- 
questing her  to  aid  us  in  reprinting  the  '  Shep- 
herd of  Salisbury  Plain  and  a  few  weeks 
ago  I  received  a  letter  from  a  friend  of  hers, 
with  X20,  for  an  edition  of  5000  of  this  beauti- 
ful tract.  Hallelujah !  We  are  at  the  same 
time  printing  several  others,  such  as  '  The 
Doctrine  of  the  Cross  of  Christ,"  '  An  Address 
to  those  who  Neglect  the  Great  Salvation,' 
'  Reflections  at  the  Close  of  the  Year,"  &c., 
making  altogether,  in  the  course  of  twelve 
months,  about  one  million  three  hundred  pages 
of  tracts.  0  God  of  mercy,  pour  out  Thy 
Spirit  to  prepare  men's  hearts,  and  to  vrater 
the  seed,  that  an  abundant  harvest  of  holiness, 
righteousness  and  peace  may  be  reaped  here, 
and  '  in  the  world  to  come  eternal  life  !'  Do 
you  know  a  little  book,  entitled,  '  Hymns  for 
Infant  Minds,'  by  Jane  Taylor,  and  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Gilbert  ?  This  sweet  work  has  lately 
beeu  translated  into  Russ.  One  edition  lias 
gone,  and  another  is  in  the  press.  The  trans- 
lator, who  is  a  fine  character,  has  also  trans- 
lated Dr.  Watts'  '  Divine  and  Moral  Songs  for 
20 


230         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


Children/  of  which  an  edition  has  been  printed. 
This  is  likely  to  be  of  unspeakable  advantage 
to  the  rising  generation.    The  Lord  grant  it 

This  year  also  closes  with  gratitude. 

"  December  24,  1830.— xirrived  at  Cronstadt 
this  day  ten  years  ago.  Lord,  how  rich  and 
free  have  been  thy  mercies  towards  me !  In 
looking  back  on  these  years,  how  much  have  I 
to  bless  Thee  for  !  I  am  stronger  in  body — 
surrounded  by  new  friends — have  a  dear  wife 
and  three  sweet  little  boys — a  good  prayer- 
meeting,  and  as  large  a  congregation  as  I 
could  expect  in  a  foreign  land — many  pious 
people  raised  up  through  my  labours,  and 
others  helped  forward  in  the  good  way — books 
circulating  continually — ten  thousand  tracts 
printed  already,  and  more  expected — my  house 
open  all  day  long  for  the  ignorant,  the  poor, 
the  wretched,  and  friends  here  almost  daily 
providing  for  their  wants.  Oh,  help  me,  Lord, 
to  show  forth  Thy  praise  !  Text  in  the  even- 
ing, '  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow 
me  all  the  days  of  my  life,  and  I  will  dwell  in 
the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever.'  " 

The  Journal  opens  the  new  year  with  the 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  231 

sentence — "  Mr.  Drury  dined  with  us."  But 
except  by  an  emphatic  line  below  the  words,  it 
was  not  reckoned  prudent,  even  in  that  private 
record,  to  do  more  to  explain  their  meaning. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  officer  in  the  Russian 
service  who  had  been  imprisoned  for  circulat- 
ing Testaments  and  tracts,  and  of  whose  re- 
lease Mr.  Knill  afterwards  wrote  thus  : — 

"On  Passion  Week — the  week  when  Rus- 
sians '  do  exploits,'  in  the  way  of  favours  and 
forgiving  offences — an  order  was  sent  to  the 
captain  to  come  to  the  place  for  his  sword. 
To  our  delight  we  saw  him  pass  our  window 
in  full  uniform.  Dear  fellow,  he  almost  fainted 
when  he  entered  our  house.  When  he  recover- 
ed, he  said,  '  Go  and  make  my  mother  ac- 
quainted with  this  ;  but  do  it  gently,  for  she 
thinks  she  shall  never  see  me  any  more.'  I 
carried  the  news,  but  could  scarcely  gain  cre- 
dence for  it.  In  the  course  of  two  hours,  how- 
ever, he  was  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  He 
was  afterwards  honourably  received  by  his 
comrades.  On  Easter-day,  the  princes,  gov- 
ernors, and  cliief  men  of  the  State,  visit  the 
palace  to  congratulate  the  Emperor ;  and  on 


232 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


Easter  Monday,  generals  hold  levees  to  receive 
the  congratulations  of  all  their  officers.  Cap- 
tain Drury  went  when  the  audience-hall  was 
thronged.  On  his  name  being  announced,  the 
general  arose  and  kissed  him,  and  then  intro- 
ducing him  to  the  officers,  said,  '  Here,  broth- 
ers, is  Captain  Drury,  the  first  officer  of  our 
army  who  was  ever  imprisoned  for  doing 
good:  " 

Notwithstanding  his  interest  in  Russia,  Mr. 
Knill  never  forgot  North  Devon.  "  You  have 
scarcely  any  conception,"  he  writes  to  Mr. 
Rooker,  "  of  the  feelings  a  Bideford  letter  pro- 
duces on  me.  It  awakens  a  thousand  slumber- 
ing ideas,  and  furnishes  a  boundless  source  of 
thought,  meditation,  prayer,  and  praise.  What, 
then,  do  you  think  were  my  feelings,  two  days 
ago,  when  not  fewer  than  three  letters  arrived  ? 
They  were,  indeed,  written  eight  months  ago, 
and  have  been  travelling  almost  ever  since ; 
but  after  visiting  our  mission  at  Selinginsk, 
Siberia,  in  the  106th  degree  of  east  longitude, 
they  have  reached  me  safely  My  de- 
lighted spirit  frequently  hovers  over  the  con- 
secrated spot  which  you  inliabit.    In  one  of 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  233 

my  preaching  visits  to  Ciiichester,  I  purchased 
a  second-hand  volume  of  the  '  History  of  Bide- 
ford/  and  I  often  read  a  few  of  the  pages  with 
a  kind  of  melancholy  pleasure,  on  account  of 
joys  departed.  For  you,  my  dear  sir,  I  feel  a 
growing  love  and  veneration.  Perhaps  we 
shall  never  more  meet  in  this  world,  but  we 
shall  meet  before  the  throne  of  our  great  Re- 
deemer, to  tell  His  love,  and  to  sing  His 
praise."  The  interest  often  expressed  in  sen- 
tences similar  to  these,  exhibited  itself  also  in 
various  actual  endeavours  to  promote  the  re- 
ligious welfare  of  his  native  county.  While 
denying  himself  many  additions  to  his  personal 
comfort,  and  using  every  exertion  to  find 
means  for  maintaining  his  projects  for  the 
good  of  Russia,  he  contributed  largely  to  the 
education  of  several  young  persons  in  Devon- 
shire, who  afterwards  filled  situations  of  use- 
fulness. He  frequently  sent  also,  in  the  kind- 
est manner,  pecuniary  presents  to  poor  and 
aged  persons,  as  an  expression  of  his  love  ; 
and  village  ministers  were  often  comforted  by 
a  timely  gift^  under  the  form  of  a  provision  for 
preaching  a  sermon  for  the  Snnday-sclioo],  or 
20'* 


234         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILEXCE. 


to  the  young.  Even  during  this  year  of  anxi- 
ety he  found  time  to  originate,  and  carry 
through  all  its  details,  the  little  plan  which  he 
thus  describes  : — 

"  Sunday  night  is  generally  a  sleepless  one 
with  me,  arising  from  the  excitement  of  the 
past  day.  During  one  of  these  nights  my 
thoughts  wandered  back  to  the  scenes  of  my 
early  days,  and  when  I  arose,  I  penned  the 
following  particulars,  which  I  presented  to  my 
friends  : — '  When  I  was  young,  the  place  of 
my  nativity,  and  the  numerous  villages  which 
Burrounded  us,  were  enveloped  in  gross  moral 
darkness.  I  never  heard  of  more  than  one 
pious  person  living  at  that  time  in  any  of  those 
places ;  but  it  has  pleased  God  since  that 
period  to  make  a  glorious  change.  At  present 
I  believe  there  are  a  few  pious  people  in  all 
these  villages.  In  the  greater  part  of  them 
the  gospel  is  preached,  and  each  village  has  its 
Sunday-school.  It  is  to  assist  these  Sunday- 
schools  that  I  particularly  desire  your  aid.'  " 

This  introduction  was  followed  by  the  name 
and  a  brief  notice  of  each  village  ;  and  the 
paper  having  found  its  way  into  the  palace, 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  235 

prompted  the  very  kind  act  of  the  Empress 
which  is  thus  noted  in  the  Journal  .: — 

"  May  25,  1831. — In  the  course  of  the  week 
a  singular  providential  circumstance  brought 
my  intention  of  assisting  the  eleven  Sunday 
schools  to  the  notice  of  her  Imperial  Majesty 
the  Empress.  She  was  so  pleased  with  the 
proposal  that,  unsolicited,  she  gave  one  hun- 
dred rubles,  which  I  ordered  to  be  laid  out  in 
twenty-two  Bibles,  two  to  be  assigned  to  each 
school." 

This  peculiar  kindness,"  he  writes  to  his 
brother,  when  defining  the  terms  on  which  the 
books  were  to  be  given,  "  in  one  so  exalted, 
shows  us  how  easy  it  is  for  God  to  raise  up 
friends  to  His  cause  ;  and  I  sincerely  hope, 
that  when  the  teachers  and  children  know  this, 
it  will  excite  an  unusual  degree  of  interest 
among  them,  and  that  every  young  person  in 
the  various  villages  will  strive  to  obtain  the 
imperial  gift.  It  will  be  very  gratifying  to 
me  to  know  that,  in  connection  with  these 
books,  hundreds  of  young  persons  have  treas- 
ured up  in  their  memories?  the  precious  chap- 
ters appointed." 


236         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 

On  each  of  the  twenty-two  Bibles  were  in 
scribed  the  words  : — "  The  gift  of  her  Imperial 
Majesty  the  Empress  of  Russia  and  on  each 
of  double  the  number  of  Testaments  : — "  The 
gift  of  an  English  lady  at  the  Court  of  Rus- 
sia." 

From  this  characteristically  ingenious  and 
kind  attempt  to  benefit  the  villagers  of  Devon^ 
he  was  called  to  receive  solemn  instruction 
within  the  circle  of  his  own  family.  In  tlie 
early  part  of  June,  he  escaped  from  the  sudden 
and  excessive  heat  of  the  city,  and  thus  wrote 
to  Mr.  Rooker  : — "  My  w^ife  and  children  are 
with  me  in  a  summer  residence,  provided  for 
us  by  the  munificence  of  an  American  mer- 
chant, where,  after  a  seven  months'  winter,  we 
have  the  lovely  sight  of  the  green  grass,  the 
butter-cup,  the  lily  of  the  valley,  and  the  moun- 
tain ash  ;  where  we  can  walk  in  the  seques- 
tered grove,  listen  to  the  notes  of  the  nightin- 
gale, and  gaze  upon  all  God's  wondrous 
works.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  my  chil- 
dren to  have  this  sweet  liberty,  for  they 
were  shut  up  in  the  house  for  the  space  of 
five  months — that  is,  while  the  severity  of 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  237 

the  winter  lasted.  It  is  a  peculiar  mark  of 
Divine  favour  to  us  that  I  became  acquainted 
with  this  American  friend,  and  I  trust  he  has 
been  a  gainer  by  it  too,  as  it  respects  the 

things  which  are  eternal  Our  Samuel 

is  growing  a  fine  boy  ;  so  is  John  ;  and  Joseph 
bids  fair  to  be  a  stout,  healthy  and  kind-heart- 
ed child.  They  were  all  born  in  August : 
Samuel,  August  12,  1825  ;  John,  August  1, 
1827  ;  Joseph,  August  3,  1829.  I  should  not 
write  these  little  things  to  you,  if  I  were  not 
sure  that  you  would  be  gratified  to  know  them." 

From  this  pleasant  retreat  he  suddenly  re- 
turned, under  circumstances  afterwards  to  be 
explained  ;  and  on  the  26th  of  June,  O.S., 
1831,  addressed  W.  Alers  Hankey,  Esq.,  thus  : 
— "I  write  to  you,  honoured  and  dear  friend, 
to  let  you  know  that,  up  to  this  hour,  my  dear 
wife,  the  children,  and  myself,  are  free  from 
cholera-morbus,  but  the  attacks  on  some  of  our 
acquaintances  have  been  very  sudden,  and 
from  all  appearances  they  are  likely  to  be 
fatal.  If  it  should  please  my  Divine  Master 
to  send  for  me  noic,  1  trust  He  will  graciously 
admit  me  into  His  presence,  '  where  there  is 


238         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 

fulness  of  joy.'  I  am  happy  to  inform  you, 
also,  that  my  wife  has  no  fears  on  this  head, 
neither  are  we  at  all  afraid  of  the  malady. 
God  in  His  mercy  keeps  us  tranquil,  and  we 
go  wherever  duty  seems  to  call.  This  is  the 
case  with  several  of  my  most  active  friends. 
Now  is  the  time  for  the  fruits  of  faith  to  ap- 
pear, and  I  rejoice  that  they  do  appear.  I 
write  as  from  the  brink  of  eternity  ;  and  if  I 
die  suddenly,  and  have  not  another  oppor- 
tunity of  writing,  I  beg  you,  and  the  society 
at  large,  to  take  care  of  my  wife  and  children  ; 
and  I  pray  God  to  draw  your  hearts  towards 
them,  and  be  to  them  fathers,  guardians,  and 
friends,  and  I  believe  He  will.  He  knows,  for 
He  knows  all  things,  that  I  have  endeavoured, 
though  feebly,  yet  sincerely,  to  serve  Him,  and 
He  w^ill  not  abandon  His  servants,  nor  their 
seed.  Praise,  honour,  glory,  and  thanksgiving 
be  unto  His  name  !  All  my  accounts  with 
you,  and  with  the  Bible  Society,  stand  fairly 
written  out  in  two  separate  books,  by  which, 
at  a  glance,  it  will  be  seen  how  matters 
stand." 

The  history  of  the  following  month  can  be 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  239 

written  only  by  his  own  pen.  The  directors 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society  he  thus  ad- 
dressed, on  the  20th  July,  O.S.,  1831  :— 

"  Honoured  and  Beloved, — The  dealings 
of  our  heavenly  Father  with  me  for  the  last 
few  weeks  have  been  peculiarly  solemn  !  Tears 
have  been  my  meat  day  and  night.  My  wife 
and  myself,  and  our  children  and  servants, 
have  been  brought  very  low,  and  two  of  my  dar- 
ling children  are  numbered  with  the  dead. 
These  trials  came  upon  us  so  rapidly,  that  I' 
was  struck  dumb.  I  was  overwhelmed.  My 
flesh  trembled  for  fear  of  His  judgments,  yet 
my  heart  cleaved  to  Him  as  my  God,  my 
Father,  and  my  Friend. 

"  My  mind  is  now  regaining  its  tranquillity, 
and  my  poor  frame  is  daily  recovering  strength, 
and  I  feel  that  it  would  be  a  relief  to  write  to 
you.  I  shall  therefore  give  you  a  distant  view 
of  the  scenes  through  which  we  have  passed. 

"  A  little  before  brother  Swan  left  us,  we  re- 
ceived 300  rubles  from  our  dear  frieud,  J.  D. 
Lewis,  Esq.,  for  the  express  purpose  of  pro- 
curing a  summer  residence  in  the  country  ; 
and  thither  my  wife  and  children  repaired,  on 


240         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


Tuesday  the  2Gtli  of  May,  O.S.  I  stopped  a 
few  days  with  them  now  and  then,  as  cir- 
cumstances permitted,  and  found  it  very  in- 
vigorating after  the  busy  scenes  of  a  long  win- 
ter. 

"On  Wednesday  the  17th  of  June,  there 
was  great  alarm  in  the  city,  on  account  of  the 
cholera.  It  was  reported  that  the  city  would 
be  shut,  and  a  cordon  placed  round  it.  Three 
families  near  us  immediately  returned  to  town, 
that  they  might  procure  medical  aid  if  needed, 
&c.  My  duty  was  plain  as  it  regarded  my- 
self— I  ought  to  be  with  my  flock  ;  but  it  was 
not  so  plain  respecting  my  family — for  it  is  a 
serious  step  to  take  a  family,  in  full  health, 
into  a  place  infected  with  disease.  We  thought 
and  prayed  much  on  the  subject;  and  on 
Thursday  evening  I  addressed  a  few  friends  on 
these  words,  '  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  by  the 
mercies  of  God,  that  ye  present  your  bodies  a 
living  sacrifice,  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is 
your  reasonable  service.'  We  then  committed 
ourselves  into  His  gracious  hands,  and  deter- 
mined not  to  be  separated  from  each  other, 
but  to  go  and  try  to  do  what  we  could  for  tlie 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  241 

honour  of  God,  and  the  benefit  of  our  suffer- 
ing fellow-creatures. 

"Friday  the  19th,  we  returned  to  town. 
The  disease  was  going  on  with  its  ravages  ; 
but  nothing  particular  happened  among  our 
friends  until  Wednesday  the  24th,  when  Mrs. 
Dixon,  one  of  our  earliest  friends,  was  attack- 
ed, and  was  soon  thought  to  be  dying.  I  went 
to  see  her,  and  took,  as  I  thought,  my  last  fare- 
well— but  she  is  now  recovered. 

"  25tJi. — My  dear  little  Joseph  was  seized 
with  convulsions.  These  are  alarming  at  all 
times,  but  were  rendered  peculiarly  so  at  present. 
But  this  was  not  enouQ-h.  God  had  more  in 
reserve  to  exercise  our  faith  and  patience,  and 
love  and  resignation.  About  midnight,  Mr. 
Venning's  steward  sent  us  word  that  he  was 
seized  with  cholera,  and  entreated  us  to  come 
to  him.  We  ran — and  after  consulting  for  a 
few  minutes  what  should  be  done,  I  hastened 
for  a  doctor  and  found  one,  who  administered 
immediate  assistance  and  relief.  By  the 
prompt  aid  afforded  to  this  man  his  life  was 
preserved.  Indeed,  in  almost  every  instance 
where  immediate  aid  could  not  be  procured, 
21  16 


242         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE, 


the  patient  died.  I  remained  up  all  night  to 
watch,  lest  the  malady  might  take  any  sudden 
change.  This,  together  with  the  circumstances 
of  my  dear  suffering  child,  greatly  affected  me. 
But  I  was  not  permitted  to  rest :  for  early  on 
Friday  (26th)  a  note  came  from  Mrs.  Chapman, 
the  excellent  mistress  of  our  Lancasterian 
school,  written  with  her  own  hand,  saying  that 
she  was  very  ill.  Our  good  friends  Mr.  Gelli- 
brand  and  Mr.  Mirrielees  immediately  went  to 
her,  and  procured  for  her  all  possible  assist- 
ance— but,  alas  !  it  was  all  of  no  avail.  This 
was  a  dreadful  day  in  St.  Petersburg.  Among 
the  hundreds  of  people  who  were  attacked 
with  cholera,  T  never  heard  of  one  who  re- 
covered. A  kind  and  excellent  doctor  came 
home  at  night  and  wept  like  a  child — every 
one  whom  he  had  visited  that  day  died  under 
his  hands.  Dear  Mrs.  Chapman  left  a  delight- 
ful testimony.  She  rejoiced  in  God  her 
Saviour.  On  Saturday  morning,  at  four,  she 
expired.  Dear  Mrs.  Gellibrand  took  her 
little  orphan  daughter  to  live  with  them.  In 
the  afternoon  I  performed  the  funeral  service, 
and,  together  with  the  members  of  the  school 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  243 

committee,  accompanied  the  body  to  the 
ground  expressly  appointed  for  persons  who 
died  of  cholera.  Here  the  scene  was  truly 
awful.  Numerous  coffins  were  resting,  some 
on  carts,  and  others  on  the  ground,  waiting 
till  graves  could  be  dug  for  them.  We  pro- 
cured two  men  to  dig  a  grave  for  our  friend, 
and  saw  her  committed  to  dust  in  sure  and 
certain  hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection  to  eternal 
life.  Little  did  I  then  think  that  her  grave 
would  soon  be  opened  to  receive  one  of  my 
sweet  boys — but  so  it  came  to  pass. 

"  About  ten  in  the  evening  I  returned  from 
the  funeral,  and  found  my  wife  unwell.  This 
was  Saturday  night.  My  next  business  was  to 
go  in  search  of  a  doctor,  and  happily  met  with 
one  at  home.  He  ordered  bathing,  bleeding, 
&G.  This  kept  me  up  all  night.  A  dear 
Christian  friend  watched  with  us.  It  was  a 
good  preparation  for  the  pulpit,  as  far  as  it 
respected  the  subject,  but  it  exhausted  my 
strength.  Our  morning  service  was  thinly  at- 
tended. Some  were  sick,  others  were  watch- 
ing, and  others  were  afraid  to  venture  out. 
My  text  was,  '  Blessed  is  that  servant  whom 


244         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


liis  Lord,  when  lie  cometh,  shall  find  watch- 
ing.' It  was  my  last  text ;  and  I  have  often 
thought  since  that  I  should  never  preach  again. 
Monday  passed  over  pretty  peacefully  ;  but  on 
Tuesday,  the  30th,  my  little  Joseph  was  seized 
with  symptoms  nearly  resembling  cholera  ;  yet 
we  fondly  thought  that  children  were  exempt 
from  the  malady.  The  night  came  on,  and  the 
child  grew  worse.  It  was  a  night  long  to  be 
remembered.  It  was  spent  in  watching  and 
prayer.  The  dear  little  fellow  frequently 
said,  *  I  thirst  and  I  believe  he  never  repeat- 
ed it  but  I  thought  of  the  Redeemer  and  His 
agonies,  and  drew  comfort  from  His  dying 
love.  At  four  the  following  morning,  when 
the  child  appeared  to  be  dying,  I  called  my 
wife  into  the  adjoining  room,  where  our  other 
two  boys  were  sleeping,  and  we  kneeled  down 
together,  and  once  more  gave  up  ourselves  and 
our  offspring  to  the  Lord,  committing  in  an 
especial  manner  the  spirit  of  our  Joseph  into 
the  Saviour's  hands.  Ah !  dear  fathers  and 
mothers,  who  have  been  bereaved  of  your 
children,  you  will  understand  what  were  our 
feeliugs.    And  now,  while  we  stood  in  silence 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  245 

waiting  to  see  the  child  expire,  another  wave 
was  preparing  to  roll  over  us.  A  sound  from 
another  quarter  pierced  our  hearts — '  Johnny 
is  seized !'  This  seemed  like  a  sword  in  our 
bones.  I  hastened  to  a  dear  friend,  Mr.  Ropes, 
from  America,  who  was  now  staying  with  us, 
and  begged  him  to  arise  and  help  us.  Two 
•doctors  came.  My  wife,  and  servants,  and 
friends  were  employed  in  bathing,  rubbing, 
blistering,  &c.,  this  lovely  boy,  while  I  was  left 
to  watch  and  weep  over  the  other  dying  child. 
The  cholera  made  dreadful  havoc  on  John. 
He  seemed  death-seized,  and  amidst  tears,  and 
sighs,  and  groans,  and  efforts  of  no  common 
kind,  he  sank  into  the  arms  of  death  before 
noon.  So  rapidly  did  death  execute  his  com- 
mission !  In  the  evening,  our  friends  conveyed 
his  body  to  the  cholera  burying-ground,  and 
placed  him  in  Mrs.  Chapman's  grave.  '  Glory 
be  to  God  !  Glory  be  to  God  !  Glory  be  to 
God !'  were  the  only  words  which  my  wife  and 
myself  could  utter,  when  we  saw  ourselves  so 
suddenly  bereaved  ;  and  I  hope  these  will  be 
the  burden  of  our  song  through  the  ages  of 
eternity. 

2P 


246         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 

"  My  heart  sinks  at  the  recital,  but  I  must 
go  on.  At  this  moment,  when  we  needed 
every  assistance,  our  servant-man  became 
alarmed,  and  requested  his  wages,  that  he 
might  go  to  his  family  in  the  interior  ;  and  I 
was  actually  compelled  to  dismiss  him  when 
the  undertaker  was  putting  my  darling  John 
into  his  coffin.  Thus  wave  after  wave  rolled 
in  upon  us,  redoubling  all  our  woe.  But  this 
was  not  all.  As  soon  as  the  corpse  was 
carried  out  of  the  house,  my  beloved  wife,  who 
had  rallied  all  her  strength  to  nurse  her  lovely 
children,  immediately  sank,  and  was  confined 
to  her  bed  for  several  succeeding  days.  I  felt 
amazed  and  bewildered,  and  threw  myself  on 
my  couch,  to  compose  my  troubled  mind  for  a 
few  minutes  ;  but  another  wave  was  preparing. 
I  had  scarcely  laid  my  head  on  my  pillow, 
when  a  person  came  and  aroused  me  with, 
'  Your  kitchen-maid  is  attacked  with  cholera  !' 
*  Is  it  possible  ?'  said  I.  '  Is  it  possible  V  1 
really  trembled.  There  was  no  time  for  reflec- 
tion. If  I  thought  about  anything  at  all  at  the 
present  moment,  it  was  this,  '  Surely  God  is 
going  to  make  a  short  work  of  it  with  us  ;  but 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  247 

we  sliall  not  be  lost ;  for  He  is  our  God.'  We 
ran  to  the  kitchen,  and  found  the  woman  sujffer- 
ing,  and  gave  her  powerful  medicine.  Two 
doctors  were  called  in  ;  and,  I  rejoice  to  add, 
she  is  now  convalescent. 

"  My  house  was  now  in  complete  confusion 
and  distress.  One  child  dead — another  in  the 
agonies  of  death — my  wife  confined  to  her  bed 
— and  one  servant  also  sick  in  bed. 

"  The  next  morning  dear  Mrs.  Mirrielees 
took  our  eldest  and  now  only  child,  to  reside 
with  them. 

"  On  Saturday,  about  mid-day,  our  sweet 
little  Joseph  expired  ;  and  in  the  evening,  our 
friends  carried  him  to  the  grave,  where  he  rests 
with  his  dear  sister — our  first-born.  I  was 
now  unable  to  support  myself  any  longer  ;  both 
body  and  spirits  were  exhausted.  I  took  to 
my  bed  also,  and  was  much  afraid  of  cholera, 
though  the  fear  was  checked  at  the  commence- 
ment, and  was  not  permitted  to  prey  upon  me. 
As  my  dear  partner  and  myself  lay  bemoaning 
our  afflicted  state,  and  endeavouring  to  com- 
fort each  other  with  the  consolations  of  the 
gospel,  we  looked  around  and  rejoiced  to  see 


248         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


our  pious  nurse  Erena  still  spared  to  us.  But, 
as  if  to  complete  the  scene  of  our  distress, 
about  midnight  this  faithful  servant  was  also 
seized.  Now  the  house  was  turned  into  an 
hospital  ;  and  we  were  thrown  into  the  hands 
of  strangers. 

"  Thus,  in  the  course  of  ten  days,  my  happy, 
healthy  family  was  shattered  in  pieces  ;  and 
we  are  now  attempting  to  repair  the  wreck 
against  another  storm.  When  tlio.t  will  come, 
God  only  knows. 

"  During  this  short  sickness  we  have  had 
seven  doctors,  as  we  were  happy  to  call  in  tlie 
first  we  could  meet  with.  Three  silent  Sab- 
baths have  been  our  portion.  This  has  grieved 
me,  but  we  cannot  resist  -the  will  of  God.  I 
believe  that  the  best  relief  for  a  preacher  with 
an  afflicted  mind  is  to  preach  ;  but  the  duty 
of  a  preacher  with  an  afflicted  body  is  to  be 
quiet  ;  for  by  attempting  to  preach  when  he 
is  unable,  he  may  injure  his  usefulness  through 
all  his  future  days.  On  this  plan  I  have  acted. 
We  are  now  in  the  country,  but  I  hope  to  be 
able  to  preach  next  Sunday. 

"  The  scenes  which  I  have  attempted  to 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILE2fCE.  249 

describe  seldom  fall  to  the  lot  of  one  man. 
In  reviewing  tbem,  I  tremble  and  rejoice. 
There  is  much  in  them  to  make  me  tremble, 
but  I  also  behold  many  things  to  call  for  my 
loudest  praises. 

"  1.  I  believe  that,  from  the  beginning  of 
our  distress  until  now,  we  have  not  uttered  a 
rebellious  word,  nor  cherished  one  murmuring 
thoughts  We  have  felt,  and  felt  deeply  ;  but 
we  have  been  wonderfully  supported,  and 
strengthened,  and  comforted.  The  High  and 
Holy  One  has  not  forsaken  us — no,  not  for  a 
moment ;  and  we  can  recommend  Him  to  all 
future  sufferers  as  a  very  present  help  in  time 
of  need. 

"  2.  None  of  our  particular  friends  who  live 
near  us  were  afflicted,  and  they  were  incessant 
in  their  attentions,  night  and  day.  Had  tliey 
or  their  families  been  sick,  they  could  not  have 
attended  to  us,  and  then  we  Should  not  have 
known  where  to  look  for  help. 

"  3.  It  was  a  great  mercy  that  we  could 
procure  people  to  work  for  us  in  the  room  of 
our  afflicted  servants.  If  the  people  had  taken 
the  alarm,  as  we  were  afraid  they  would,  then 


250        SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


no  one  would  have  come  near  us,  and  we 
should  have  perished  alive.  Oh,  if  the  Lord 
had  continued  his  strokes  only  a  few  days 
longer,  we  can  easily  perceive  how  deplorable 
our  situation  would  have  been  ! 

"  4.  It  was  very  consoling  to  us  that  two  of 
our  spiritual  children — good  Mrs.  Mickleson, 
who  sold  her  watch  to  buy  Bibles  for  the 
Finns,  and  our  pious  nurse — were  enabled  to 
perform  the  last  kind  offices  for  our  John  and 
Joseph. 

"  5.  Though  we  know  of  no  other  family 
who  have  been  afflicted  like  ourselves,  yet  we 
do  not  view  it  as  a  mark  of  the  Almighty's  dis- 
pleasure. Whom  the  Lord  loveth  He  chas- 
teneth,  and  we  bless  Him  for  His  fatherly 
chastisement.  May  it  make  us  more  than  ever 
tlie  partakers  of  His  holiness  !  '  Every  branch 
in  me  tliat  beareth  fruit,  he  pruneth  it.'  He 
has  pruned  off  two  boughs  from  us  at  a  stroke, 
but  our  prayer  is  that  it  may  render  us  more 
fruitful.  It  became  the  Moral  Governor  of 
the  world  to  make  tlie  Captain  of  our  salva- 
tion perfect  through  sufferings,  and  we  hope 
and  pray  that  our  sufferings  may  be  so  sanctl- 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  251 

fied  as  to  render  us  fitter  instruments  for 
bringing  many  sons  unto  glory.  Pray  for  us, 
dear  fathers  and  bretliern !  Pray  that  this 
may  be  the  happy  result  of  the  Lord's  dealings 
with  us.    Amen.  " 

The  Princess  Metschersky  expressed  the 
solicitude  and  the  trust  of  many  hearts  when, 
at  the  close  of  this  storm,  she  wrote  : — '*Are 
you  all  alive,  my  dear  friend,  are  you  all  safe  ? 
Yes,  you  are  all  safe  under  the  mighty  arm  of 
our  heavenly  Father ;  but  in  this  time  of  trial — 
in  a  moment  when  His  chastening  hand  plun- 
ges every  human  feeling  into  dread  and  grief 
— in  these  sorrowful  hours  are  your  souls  in 
peace  And  although  Mr.  Knill  could  not 
reply  that  he  and  all  his  loved  ones  were 
"  alive,"  he  could  affirm  that  all  were  "  safe  " 
and  "  in  peace."  "  Dear  Madam,"  he  asks  of 
his  now  widowed  friend,  Mrs.  Rooker,  does 
not  heaven  appear  more  desirable  since  you 
had  three  children  and  a  husband  there? 
Although  we  wish  to  be  there,  chiefly  because 
we  shall  be  '  ever  with  the  Lord,'  I  do  not 
think  our  heavenly  Father  is  angry  with  us 
for  cherishing  the  anticipation  of  unmingled 


252         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


bliss  with  beloved  relatives.  I  believe  I  uever 
thought  so  much  of  heaven  as  I  have  done 
since  mj  Julia,  and  John,  and  Joseph  were 
there,  and  in  this  way  I  think  the  dispensation 
has  worked  for  my  good." 

As  soon  as  his  mind  had  attained  to  some 
degree  of  tranquillity,  he  drew  up  an  interest- 
ing account  of  his  son  John,"*  which  was 
published  by  the  Religious  Tract  Society. 
The  charming  simplicity  which  pervades  the 
little  sketch  led  to  its  extensive  circulation  in 
the  Russian,  Mongolian,  and  other  languages  ; 
and  every  testimony  to  its  usefulness  sent  a 
fresh  tide  of  gratitude  through  the  father's 
heart. 

Of  his  tracts  generally,  Mr.  Knill  afterwards 
wrote — "My  first  effort  was  one  entitled,  'The 
Influence  of  Pious  Women  in  promoting  a 
Revival  of  Religion.'  It  found  favour,  and 
after  being  published  by  the  Tract  Society, 
was  translated  into  my  old  language,  tlie 
Tamil,  and  God  blessed  it  at  Travencore.  I 
went  on  sending  home  papers,  whenever  cir- 
cumstances occured  which  afforded  good  his- 

*  "An  Account  of  John  Knill:  by  his  Father." 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  253 

torical  notices.  Some  were  printed  by  the 
American  and  English  societies,  and  others  by 
private  persons  at  their  own  expense,  and  they 
are  now  moving  through  the  world,  in  ten 
languages  —  the  numbers  printed  already 
amounting  to  between  six  and  seven  millions. 
Oh,  the  wonder-working  God !  I  stand 
amazed  at  the  grace  that  taught  my  heart  to 
love,  my  head  to  plan,  my  hands  to  work  !  It 
has  frequently  been  my  happy  lot  to  meet  with 
persons  who  have  been  awakened,  directed, 
comforted,  and  I  hope  saved  through  these 
humble  messengers.  Mr.  Jones,  of  the  Tract 
Society,  told  me  that  they  printed  an  edition 
of  thirty  thousand  of  the  '  False  Hope '  for 
the  London  City  Mission,  because  the  repre- 
sentations of  its  usefulness  compelled  them. 
In  the  blessing  of  God  on  these  tracts,  I  have 
noticed  much  of  the  Divine  sovereignty.  For 
instance,  I  wrote  '  John  Knill '  to  comfort 
bereaved  parents  ;  but  God  blessed  it  to  the 
conversion  of  a  man  in  Newgate  under  sen- 
tence of  transportation.  Lady  Pirie  took  me 
to  see  him.  Again, I  wrote  'The  Dying  Thief 
and  the  Dying  Saviour,'  with  a  hope  that  it 
22 


254         SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


would  be  blessed  in  our  prisons  ;  but  two 
geutlemen  of  high  moral  character  were  con- 
verted by  it,  who  have  entertained  me  in  their 
mansions,  and  given  me  the  cheering  acccount 
with  their  own  lips.  Should  not  every  young 
minister  be  stirred  up  to  write  short  pithy 
tracts,  and  hope  for  the  Divine  blessing  on 
them?" 

The  return  of  the  Rev.  AYilliam  Swan,  with 
tlie  early  ships,  cheered  the  little  Christian 
circle  in  St.  Petersburg,  and  gave  Mr.  Knill  an 
opportunity  of  prosecuting  visitations  among 
the  English  sailors  in  Cronstadt,  in  which  he 
had  always  delighted.  "I  have  lived,"  he 
says,  on  31st  of  August,  "  on  board  sliip,  and 
have  not  been  up  to  the  town  at  all.  The  con- 
gregations have  been  large,  and  deeply  interest- 
ing ;  but  the  field  is  so  vast — about  one  thou- 
sand English  and  American  ships  with  about 
ten  thousand  men,  annually — and  demands  so 
many  kinds  of  labour,  that  my  heart  is  almost 

full  of  it  I  find  the  sailors  in  general 

very  destitute  of  good  books,  and  I  am  most 
desirous  to  supply  a  thousand  men  next  sum- 
mer, if  I  live,  with  a  copy  of  such  a  work  as 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  255 

Baxter  or  Doddridge,  which  they  may  call 
their  own,  and  take  them  as  a  chart  and  com- 
pass over  the  great  ocean  of  life.  I  have 
ordered  five  hundred  volumes,  at  my  own  ex- 
pense, to  be  ready  for  next  spring's  ships." 

These  interesting  and  useful  visits  were  neces- 
sarily terminated  on  the  approach  of  winter  ; 
but  the  same  agency  which  closes  the  seaward, 
facilitates  the  landward  communications.  When 
tlie  snow  mantle  descends  on  the  green  cupolas, 
the  bronze  statues,  and  the  gravelled  prome- 
nades of  the  city,  the  rugged  highways  of  the 
country  become  paved  in  a  style  which  renders 
travelling  a  luxury.  The  passenger-steamer 
therefore,  in  which  he  had  been  made  free  by 
the  generous  owner  to  navigate  the  Xeva  all 
the  summer,  was  now  exchanged  for  the  sledge  : 
and  the  diligent  Siberian  missionary,  being 
detained  by  the  labour  of  copying  a  recent- 
ly discovered  version  of  the  Scripture,  Mr. 
Knill  was  enabled  to  visit  periodically  several 
neighbouring  villages,  in  which  English  arti- 
sans were  employed  by  the  Russian  govern- 
ment.   In  these  excursions  he  took  deep  inter- 


256 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE. 


est,  and  his  visits  were  always  hailed  with 
gratitude,  tliongli  no  lengthened  memorials  of 
them  remain.^ 

The  winter  proved  to  be  one  of  unusual  sick- 
ness and  mortality  among  the  English  residents 
in  St.  Petersburg,  and  Mr.  Knill  was  called, 
in  the  midst  of  all  his  energetic  labours,  to 
follow  several  beloved  friends  to  the  grave, 
some  of  whom  had  been  among  his  most  intel- 
ligent and  affectionate  coadjutors  in  every  good 
endeavour.  After  such  a  season  of  gloom  and 
sickness,  the  genial  airs  of  the  spring  were 
more  than  usually  welcome.  Tlrey  brought 
with  them,  too,  a  new  prospect  and  a  new  mode 
of  life.  In  the  month  of  May,  he  received 
from  the  directors  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society  a  request  that  he  would  visit  England, 
and  devote  some  time  to  the  work  of  represent- 
ing the  society,  and  stirring  up  a  missionary 
spirit  through  the  country.  In  making  this 
proposal  the  directors  appear  to  have  been 
prompted  by  a  desire  to  afford  to  him  some 
change  after  the  sorrows  and  toils  he  liad 

*  At  Alexandroffsky,  one  of  those  villages,  a  church  vas 
formed,  which  now  maintains  an  English  pastor  of  its  own- 


SHADOWS  OF  THE  PESTILENCE.  257 

undergone,  as  well  as  by  a  knowledge  of  his 
remarkable  adaptation  to  tlie  work  to  which 
they  called  him.  He,  at  the  same  time,  was 
the  more  inclined  to  accede  to  their  request,  as 
a  desire  which  he  had  long  cherished  of  having 
a  chapel  for  the  exclusive  use  of  his  congrega- 
tion was  now  more  than  ever  likely  to  be  real- 
ized, and  the  time  had  come  when  application 
for  pecuniary  aid  might  be  properly  made  in 
England.  The  hand  of  God  thus  seemed  to 
him  to  be  in  the  proposition.  "  Your  letter," 
he  writes  to  the  Rev.  William  Ellis,  on  the 
18lh  January,  1833,  "overwhelmed  me.  I 
opened  it  in  the  street,  and  wept  aloud  when  I 
read  that  part  which  referred  to  my  return  to 
Britain,  and  could  not  help  saying,  '  Lord,  thou 
knowest  I  am  not  equal  to  tliis.  It  is  too 
much.  The  directors  have  formed  too  high  an 
opinion  of  me,  and  their  hopes  will  be  blasted.^ 
Yet  this  will  not  prevent  me  doing  what  I  can. 
I  have  had  two  or  three  meetings  with  my 
friends  about  it,  and  I  shall  leave  for  England 
as  soon  as  possible." 

22* 


11 


CHAPTER  X. 


"  As'sliips  meet  at  sea,  a  moment  together,  when  words 
of  greeting  must  be  spoken,  and  then  away  upon  the  deep, 
so  men  meet  in  this  world ;  and  I  think  we  should  cross  no 
man's  path  without  hailing  hun,  and,  if  he  needs,  giving  him 
supplies." — Beecher. 

(259) 


WIDENING  HOmZON. 

Mr.  Knill  fully  expected  that  after  a  brief 
sojourn  in  England,  he  would  be  able  to  re- 
turn witli  the  means  of  completing  a  chapel,  in 
which  he  should  continue  to  hold  forth  the 
word  of  life  in  St.  Petersburg.  But  his  ser- 
vices among  the  churches  in  England  proved 
so  valuable,  that  he  was  induced  by  the  direc- 
tors, from  time  to  time,  to  prolong  his  stay  ;  and 
having  met  with  one  well  qualified  to  occupy 
his  vacant  place,  he  eventually  perceived  that 
he  was  to  prosecute  and  to  finish  his  labours 
for  Christ  in  his  native  country.  The  work  on 
which  he  entered  is  one  almost  equally  useful 
and  perilous.  To  awaken  the  Christian  mind 
of  the  country  to  the  duty  of  disseminating  the 
gospel  over  the  earth,  is  to  render,  not  only  to 
the  heathen,  but  to  England,  one  of  the  highest 
services  ;  but  to  maintain  a  thoughtful  and 
devout  spirit  during  incessant  journeys,  in  the 

[261] 


262 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


atmospliere  of  public  meetings,  and  among  suc- 
cessive crowds  of  strangers,  cannot  be  easy, 
and  is  never  really  accomplished,  but  when  the 
ruling  motive  is  of  unusual  power.  Mr.  Knill 
entered  on  tlie  task  with  a  full  knowledge  of 
its  peculiarities  ;  and  during  the  eight  con- 
secutive years  which  he  pursued  it,  received  in 
Buch  measure  the  blessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
as  to  make  that  period  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able of  his  life.  Materials,  however,  for  giving 
it  full  illustration  do  not  exist.  There  was  no 
such  leisure  for  entries  in  journals,  and  no  such 
necessity  for  epistolary  correspondence  as  had 
existed  in  the  quietude  and  remoteness  of  the 
Russian  capital :  the  journals  now  containing 
little  more  than  lists  of  engagements,  and  the 
letters  being  confined  almost  entirely  to  af- 
fectionate notes  to  his  family  and  his  more 
intimate  friends. 

The  following  communication  from  the  Rev» 
Dr.  Urwick  of  Dublin,  opportunely  supplies 
a  characteristic  general  sketch. 

"  The  first  time  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
and  hearing  Mr.  Knill  was  in  the  summer  of 
1820.    I  was  not  then  i^esident  in  Dublin, 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


263 


but  came  up  to  attend  a  public  meeting  for 
fully  organizing  the  Hibernian  Auxiliary  to 
the  London  Missionary  Society.  A  deputation 
from  the  parent  society  was  present,  consisting 
of  the  Rev.  Jolin  Arundel,  its  Home  Secretary; 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Stewart  of  the  Scotch  Church, 
Liverpool  ;  and  the  Rev.  Richard  Knill,  who 
had  just  returned  from  India.  Evangelism  in 
our  city  was  in  the  simplicity  and  susceptibility 
of  its  early  youth.  The  arrival  of  such  a 
deputation  in  behalf  of  missions  to  the  heatlien, 
produced  no  small  stir  among  those  who  are 
called  the  Christian  public  ;  for  to  many  of 
them  the  missionary  enterprise  was  a  new 
thing — to  tlie  claims  of  Avhich  they  then  awoke 
as  from  a  sleep, — the  rising  of  an  orb  they  had 
not  before  seen.  The  admirable  exhibition 
which  the  deputation  presented  of  the  catholic 
principle  and  practice  of  the  society,  added  to 
the  excitement.  Especially  was  it  extraordi- 
nary and  interesting  to  have  the  sacred  cause 
pleaded  in  Dublin,  by  a  young  man  of  good 
speaking  powers,  with  a  soul  of  fire,  direct 
from  the  far-off  mission  field — who  could 
largely  and  affectionately  tell,  from  his  own. 


264 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


knowledge,  what  abominable  idolatries  and 
other  evils  prevailed  in  heathendom,  and  what 
blessed  results  had  already  followed  upon  the 
introduction  of  the  glorious  gospel  in  the  dark 
places  of  the  earth  ! 

"  Sixteen  years  passed  by,  and  Mr.  Knill 
was  again  in  Dublin.  During  the  interval  he 
had  been  fulfilling  his  ministry  in  Russia.  He 
came  alone,  but  the  event  proved  'he  was  a 
host  in  himself !'  The  first  service  in  which 
he  was  engaged  was  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  in 
my  own  chapel.  It  was,  throughout,  one  of 
great  efficiency.  His  prayers,  his  reading  of 
the  Scriptures,  with  short  comments  as  he  pro- 
ceeded, and  his  sermon,  all  conspired  to  gather 
up  the  hearts  of  the  congregation  into  com- 
munion with  his  own. 

There  was  no  pretence  of  greatness  ;  there 
was  no  attempt  at  display  ;  there  was  no 
elaborate  composition  ;  there  was  not  what 
would  entitle  him  to  be  placed  high  as  a 
reasoner,  or  as  an  original  thinker,  or  as  an 
orator  ;  but  there  was  good  sense,  pure  and 
rich  gospel  truth,  living  earnestness,  a  spirit 
glowing  as  if  kindled  from  the  altar  of  God, 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


265 


and  a  directness  which  made  the  hearers  feel 
that  what  he  said  was  spoken  in  honest  pur- 
pose of  heart.  Rarely  had  I  heard  a  preacher 
who  was  more  happy  in  illustration  by  anec- 
dote, or  who  better  combined  and  blended 
statements  adapted  to  convert  and  edify,  with 
those  which  bore  for  the  consecration  of  talent 
and  property  to  aid  Christian  missions.  His 
style  was  simple  ;  his  sentences  short ;  and 
every  word  seemed  to  be  an  outbreathing  of 
his  soul.  His  countenance  was  most  expres- 
sive ;  whatever  affected  himself  appeared  to 
affect  others  ;  ypu  might  read  his  mind  in  his 
face  ;  and  the  smile  or  the  tear — the  look  that 
wins,  or  melts,  or  awes,  came  spontaneously 
with  his  ideas.  He  was  tellingly  graphic  in 
description,  and  moving  in  appeal ;  and  withal 
he  had  an  unction  of  sterling  piety  which 
proved  him  to  be  truly  a  man  of  God.  Those 
who  attended  his  ministry  in  other  places  of 
worship  in  our  city  formed  a  like  estimate  of 
him. 

"  As  Mr.  Knill  was  unaccompanied  by 
another  delegate  from  the  society,  I  went 
with  him  on  a  short  tour  to  some  places  south 
23 


266 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


of  Dublin,  and  on  a  round  to  the  west,  includ- 
ing Sligo.  We  had  hospitality  and  God  speed 
from  excellent  ministers  and  members  of  the 
Established  Church,  as  well  as  from  other 
friends.  Two  of  our  meetings  were  held  in 
episcopal  places  of  worship,  according  to  ar- 
rangements made  by  the  clergymen  of  the  re- 
spective parishes.  Wherever  we  went,  we 
found  hearts  open  to  receive  our  friend's  state- 
ments, and  respond  liberally  to  his  appeals.  I 
much  enjoyed  the  opportunity  which  this  joint- 
travelling  gave  me,  for  becoming  more  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  him  ;  and  the  better  I 
knew  him,  the  more  I  loved  him.  I  found  him 
to  be  as  real  in  private,  as  he  appeared  to  be 
in  public.  His  residence  in  India,  and  after- 
wards in  Russia,  had  given  him  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  the  world.  He  could  '  beware  of 
men,'  while  he  was  free  and  lively  in  convers- 
ing with  them.  He  maintained  his  position 
among  them  without  aping  what  he  was  not. 
Nothing  of  what  is  justly  called  *  cant '  ever 
escaped  him  ;  but  he  was  never  at  a  loss  for 
pointed  appropriate  remarks,  wisely  and  pleas- 
antly made,  to  whomsoever  he  met.    He  had 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


267 


great  viyacity  in  conversation,  with  not  a  little 
Tvit  and  humour,  and  uniform  good  temper. 
When  opportunity  was  given,  he  spent  his 
time  alone,  partly  in  writing,  partly  in  prayer, 
and  partly  also  in  resting  and  recruiting  his 
not  over-strong  bodily  frame.  He  had  great 
power  of  observation  and  quickness  in  adapt- 
ing incidents  to  illustrate  cases.  What  struck 
me  perhaps  as  yet  more  remarkable,  was  his 
faculty  for  repetition.  Anecdotes  and  appeals 
which  he  had  given  out  often  in  other  places, 
he  delivered  in  the  same  words  and  with  the 
same  warmth  of  spirit,  tone  of  voice,  and  ex- 
pression of  countenance,  as  if  he  were  then 
speaking  them  for  the  first  time.  This  habit 
would  with  most  men  have  been  merely  me- 
chanical— an  artistic  acting  to  produce  effect. 
I  feel  assured  that  in  him  the  freshness  and 
kindling  which  came  on  many  occasions  in  the 
same  form,  were  genuine,  and  were  sustained 
by  close  communion  with  God,  in  and  for  His 
work."^ 

"  I  may  add,  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of 

*  Cornelius  Winter  thus  explains  the  same  peculiarity  in 
Whitfield. 


268 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


making  a  request,  tliat  the  Christian  friends 
with  whom  he  was  to  be  engaged,  would 
occupy  themselves  beforehand  in  special,  priv- 
ate, and  social  prayer  for  the  Divine  blessing 
upon  his  visit.  I  need  not  observe  how  well 
this  served  to  open  and  make  ready  the  way 
for  him,  and  to  bring  with  him  a  presence  and 
a  power  far  higher  than  his  own.  Were  the 
visits  of  missionary  and  other  Christian  depu- 
tations always  preceded  by  the  same  devout 
preparations,  they  would  be  received  with  a 
more  cordial  welcome,  and  the  advantage  de- 
rived from  them  would  be  much  grater  than  is 
realized  in  cases  not  a  few." 

The  value  which  Mr.  Knill  placed  on  the 
prayers  of  the  people  whom  he  was  about  to 
visit,  was  in  keeping  with  the  importance 
which  he  attached  to  it  in  his  own  practice.  "  I 
think,"  said  a  friend  to  him, "  I  should  feel  the 
want  of  retirement  in  your  present  mode  of 
life,  more  than  anything."  "  So  I  do,  my 
brother,"  he  replied,  "  and  particularly  that  I 
have  so  little  time  for  prayer  ;  I  mean  quiet 
prayer  in  the  closet — without  any  noise,  any 
hurry,  any  disturbance.    This  is  what  I  want, 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


269 


and  what  every  minister  of  the  gospel  wants. 
What  can  we  do  without  prayer  ?  How  can 
we  study,  how  can  we  preach,  how  can  we 
visit  the  sick,  how  can  our  words  reach  the 
heart,  without  prayer  ?  A  minister  needs  to 
be  surrounded  continually  with  a  devotional 
atmosphere.'' 

Of  seasons  of  solemn  retrospect  and  devo- 
tion, there  occur  many  traces  in  the  journal, 
such  as  these  : — 

May  1,  1834. — I  am  now  at  Kibworth 
where  the  blessed  Doddridge  began  his  minis- 
try. 0  my  God,  make  me  as  holy,  and  pre- 
serve me  as  spotless — make  me  as  zealous  and 
devoted  as  thou  madest  him  ;  and  though  I 
have  not  his  learning,  yet  thou  canst  make  me 
as  useful !  Lord,  bless  me,  and  make  me  a 
blessing !  The  last  month  has  been  very  cheer- 
ing. Ten  thousand  mercies  have  followed  mo 
—  exposed  by  night  and  day  —  constantly 
preaching  and  living  among  strangers,  yet 
preserved  and  well  to  this  moment !  0  Lord, 
to  thee  I  ascribe  the  praise  forever,  and  to 
thee  on  this  first  day  of  the  month,  I  afresh 
give  up  myself  to  be  more  than  ever  consecrated 
23^ 


270 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


to  Thy  service.  If  I  am  spared  through  this 
month,  there  will  be  many  calls  upon  my  feeble 
powers.  Lord,  help  me  safely  through !  Thy 
grace  is  suf&cient  for  all  Thy  servants  :  help 
me  to  lay  hold  of  it  by  faith.  Amen." 

The  scenes  of  his  own  early  life  awakened  a 
similar  class  of  feelings  in  a  very  interesting 
manner. 

"  September  30,  1836  —Proceeded  to  Braun- 
ton  my  native  place,  and  found  my  brother 
alive,  but  weak  in  body  ;  and,  I  trust,  improv- 
ing in  spiritual  things.  My  soul  was  greatly 
comforted  by  his  conversation,  especially  on 
the  majesty  and  glory  of  the  Saviour. 

"  At  night  I  was  accommodated  with  the 
same  bed  I  had  often  occupied  before.  The 
furniture  remains  just  the  same  as  when  I  was 
a  boy.  But  my  busy  thoughts  would  not  let 
me  sleep  ;  I  was  thinking  how  God  had  led 
me  through  the  journey  of  life.  At  last  the 
light  of  morning  streamed  through  the  little 
window,  and  my  eye  caught  a  sight  of  the  very 
spot  where  my  sainted  mother,  more  than  forty 
years  ago,  took  my  hand,  and  said,  '  Kichard, 
my  dear,  kneel  down  with  me,  and  I  will  go  to 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


271 


prayer.'  I  seemed  to  hear  the  tones  of  her 
yoice :  I  recollected  some  of  her  expressions. 
I  burst  into  tears,  and  rising  from  my  bed,  fell 
on  my  knees,  just  on  the  place  where  my 
mother  kneeled,  and  adored  the  Divine  good- 
ness for  giving  me  such  a  parent.  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  my  soul,  at  every  remembrance  of  this 
mercy 

"  October  2,  Lord's-dmj. — Preached  at  Barn- 
staple. The  scenes  of  youthful  folly  pressed 
sore  upon  me,  and  I  was  nearly  overwhelmed. 
When  reading  the  second  of  Ephesians,  I  could 
not  proceed,  but  shut  the  book ;  when  the  con- 
gregation rose,  and  we  prayed.  I  recovered, 
but  it  was  a  weeping  day  to  myself  and  to 
hundreds." 

"  October  8. — Walked  about  among  my  old 
neighbours,  and  humbled  myself  before  God  at 
the  recollection  of  youthful  transgressions.  I 
bless  Thee  for  light  and  life,  and  peace  and 
joy,  through  Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord." 

"  October  9. — I  dined  at  Bideford  with  dear 
Spencer,  and  preached  to  about  a  thousand  old 
and  young,  in  the  old  meeting,  where  I  have 
enjoyed  so  much.    Fine  sight!    Religion  is 


272 


AVIDEXIXG  HORIZOX. 


greatly  on  the  increase  here,  and  in  every  part 
of  North  Devon.   The  Lord  be  praised  !*'' 

Proceeding  through  the  country  in  such  a 
spirit  as  this,  it  will  be  readily  understood  that 
he  aimed  primarily  at  the  increase  of  religion 
in  the  hearts  of  the  people  before  him.  "  I 
like/''  he  said,  "  the  missionary  sermon  which 
brings  the  people  to  dwell  on  the  love  of 
Christ.  It  is  not  the  brilliant  oration  which 
does  the  work  at  our  missionary  meetings,  but 
the  earnest  and  direct  appeal  to  the  conscience. 
'  How  much  owest  thou  to  my  Lord  ?' — that  is 
the  question  to  bring  home ;  and  when  it  is 
brought  home,  the  money  will  not  be  want- 
ing." The  predominance  of  this  feeling  gave 
him  an  almost  intuitive  perception  of  opportu- 
nities of  usefulness.  "  Sir,"  said  a  working- 
man  to  him,  "  I  went  last  night  to  the  mission- 
ary meeting,  and  I  heard  you  speak  of  the  love 
of  Christ,  and  of  the  responsibility  of  Christ's 
people  to  seek  the  salvation  of  the  heathen. 
I  have  professed  many  years  to  be  a  Christian, 
but  I  liave  never  yet  given  anything  to  tlie 
Christian  cause.  I  have  come  now  to  say  that, 
by  good  health  and  constant  work,  I  liave 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


273 


saved  up  XIO  ;  and  I  have  brought  it,  begging 
jour  acceptance  of  it,  as  my  first  contribution 
to  the  Missionary  Society." 

Mr.  K.  asked  "  Does  your  wife  know  of  this  ?" 

"  No  ;  she  is  not  a  godly  woman,  and  I  am 
afraid  to  tell  her,"  replied  the  man. 

"  Well,  I  will  tell  you  what  to  do.  I  can- 
not take  it  without  her  knowledge.  Go  home; 
take  courage  and  say  to  her,  '  You  are  my 
nearest  and  dearest  friend.  I  want  you  to 
kneel  down  with  me  and  pray  with  me  for  five 
minutes,  and  then  I  want  to  ask  your  permis- 
sion for  something  that  I  will  not  do  without 
that  permission.'  Do  not  be  afraid  ;  but  go 
tenderly  and  affectionately  to  her.  See  what 
the  result  will  be,  and  come  again  to-morrow." 

The  next  morning  the  man  came,  and  with 
tears  said,  "  It  is  a  most  wonderful  thing  !  My 
wife  has  always  been  opposed  to  these  things. 
But  I  went  home  ;  I  had  the  courage  to  do 
what  you  told  me  :  I  asked  her  to  kneel  down 
with  me.  I  then  told  her  everything  ;  and  she 
has  sent  me  here  to-day  to  say  she  gives  it 
cordially,  and  with  all  her  heart." 

The  following  communication  from  Mr. 
18 


274 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


Charles  Reed  gives  an  additional  proof  that 
arduous  as  were  the  duties  in  connexion  with 
the  mission  to  which  he  was  pledged,  there 
was  hardly  a  proposal  for  the  good  of  the 
population  around  him  with  which  he  was  not 
ready  to  comply  : — 

"  Early  in  the  year  1839,  Mr.  Knill  visited 

Leeds.    He  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  C  ,  an 

influential  magistrate  in  that  borough,  and  at 
his  house  we  first  met.  I  had  resided  through 
several  years  in  the  town,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  church  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Rev.  John  Ely.  During  the  winter  of  1838,  this 
excellent  minister  had  been  making  an  effort 
to  promote  the  revival  of  religion  among  the 
people  of  his  charge,  and  a  great  awakening 
had  taken  place  in  both  the  church  and  congre- 
gation. Drawing-room  and  kitchen  meetings 
were  held  from  house  to  house,  at  which  per- 
sons of  all  classes  were  assembled — the  Scrip- 
tures expounded,  religious  experience  given, 
and  free  prayer  united  in.  These  were  hal- 
lowed seasons.  Breaking  in  upon  the  ordinary 
festivities  of  the  winter,  no  opportunity  seemed 
to  be  left  for  mere  evening  parties ;  for  the 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


275 


families  were  all  concerned  in  higher  and  more 
important  interests.  Among  the  inquiring 
people,  John  Ely  was  like  an  apostle  ;  and 
Winter  Hamilton  and  Thomas  Scales  rejoiced 
in  the  proofs  of  usefulness  by  means  of  these 
holy  and  prevailing  influences.  Having  at 
the  time  the  charge  of  a  large  factory  in  the 
town,  where  many  hundreds  of  young  people 
were  employed,  I  was  led,  amidst  much  dis- 
couragement, to  attempt  something  for  their 
religious  welfare.  Most  of  the  families  em- 
ployed in  Britannia  Mills  were  Irish,  and  of 
these  most  were  Romanists.  No  difficulty, 
however,  had  arisen  in  setting  on  foot  a  good 
library  of  books  for  circulation  ;  and  classes 
for  instruction  had  been  arranged.  The  great 
difficulty  seemed  to  be,  the  connecting  with 
the  scheme  a  religious  service,  which  it  was 
desired,  by  some  of  the  pious  workmen,  to  hold 
at  least  once  in  the  week.  On  a  certain 
Wednesday  evening,  the  experiment  was  to  be 
made  ;  and  in  the  face  of  some  open  contempt, 
and  much  more  apathy,  we  had  issued  the 
notice  that  the  works  would  stop  an  hour 
earlier  than  usual  on  that  evening. 


276 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


"  I  believe  it  was  in  answer  to  prayer  that, 
on  the  very  night  when  this  notice  had  been 
posted  on  the  outer  gates  of  the  mill,  and 
we  were  questioning  the  policy  of  the  act,  a 
stranger  came  into  the  town.  Quite  unex- 
pectedly to  me  I  met  him  at  the  house  of  our 
mutual  friend  ;  and,  before  he  knew  my  name, 
or  I  was  acquainted  with  his,  my  eye  had  met 
his  searching  and  affectionate  look,  at  the 
startling  question,  '  What  are  you  doing  for 
the  Saviour  ?'  I  hesitated  ;  and  our  host  said, 
*  0,  Mr.  Knill,  he  is  at  work  in  a  corner  of  the 
vineyard,  which  you  must  see.'  From  that 
moment  he  was  my  friend.  He  fell  in  my  way 
at  a  time  of  sore  trial ;  and  he  no  sooner 
heard  of  our  plans  and  difficulties,  than  he 
entered  into  them  with  the  greatest  interest. 
He  offered  to  go  with  me  to  the  houses  of  some 
of  our  people  ;  and  while  he  astonished  them 
by  the  suddenness  and  pointedness  of  his  ques- 
tions, he  won  their  respect  by  his  kindness  and 
essential  goodness.  Thus  I  remember  that  he 
went  with  me  from  cottage  to  cottage,  and, 
standing  by  the  looms,  his  wonderful  tact 
broke  through  all  the  obstacles  which  had  bar- 


WIDENING  HORIZON.  277 

red  my  effort  to  be  useful.  The  poor  people 
were  all  delighted,  and  through  the  day  the 
principal  topic  of  conversation  in  the  factory 
was  the  visit  of  the  Russian  missionary.  On 
the  morning  of  the  day  in  question,  a  great 
event  happened.  Mr.  Knill  visited  our  works, 
and  so  great  was  his  popularity,  that  people, 
not  unused  to  stand  by  their  machines  while 
peers  and  nobles  passed  along,  were  with  diffi- 
culty kept  at  their  work  while  he  visited  the 
various  departments.  He  was  received  in  all 
the  rooms  with  great  manifestations  of  inter- 
est by  the  groups  surrounding  him  ;  and  the 
strong  men  in  the  forge,  the  dye-house,  and  the 
engine-room,  vied  with  the  little  children 
piecing  the  endless  threads  and  soliciting  the 
tracts,  hundreds  of  which  he  distributed  during 
his  visit.  With  his  own  hand  he  wrote  a 
notice,  and  posted  it  in  the  principal  entrance 
— '  Mr.  Knill  will  give  an  account  to-night  of 
"  A  Yorkshireman's  Funeral.'''  I  shall  never 
forget  the  scene.  The  great  bell  rang  out  at 
seven  o'clock,  the  last  beat  of  the  throbbing 
engine  was  heard,  the  gates  were  thrown  open, 
and  the  people  were  free  to  go  or  to  remain* 
24 


278 


WJDEXING  HORIZON. 


In  one  room,  of  immense  proportions,  a  plat- 
form was  raised,  and  on  that  platform  stood  a 
home-made  pulpit,  fresh  from  the  carpenter's 
shop.  Rushing  in  like  a  mighty  tide  came  the 
congregation.  Pious  Sunday-school  girls  led 
the  way  :  old  women,  to  whom  the  blessed 
Word  had  long  been  a  strange  story  ;  little 
cliildren,  attracted  by  the  novelty  of  the  scene ; 
and  behind  them  all,  a  compact  body  of  men. 
Catholics,  and  plenty  of  them — infidels,  and 
not  a  few — men  of  every  creed,  and  more,  I 
fear,  of  none — mingled  in  that  promiscuous 
throng.  The  magic  power  of  love  had  won 
that  congregation. 

"  The  proprietors  of  the  mill  were  punctual 
in  their  attendance ;  the  cashier,  the  book- 
keepers, and  clerks  ;  the  gate-keeper  and  the 
call-boys — all  were  present ;  indeed,  I  believe 
few  were  wanting  when  the  whole  company 
stood  to  sing  that  hymn  of  praise,  '  Come,  let 
us  join  our  cheerfal  songs.'  It  was  an  impres- 
sive sight,  even  to  Mr.  Knill,  accustomed  as  he 
was  to  popular  gatherings.  I  watched  his 
face,  and  saw  that  emotion  was  busy  there. 
The  tenderness  of  a  loving  spirit  betrayed 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


279 


itself  in  those  large  expressive  eyes,  and  the 
words  faltered  on  his  lips — '  Jesus  is  worthy 
to  receive/  &c.  All  eyes  were  turned  on  him 
as,  rejecting  the  pulpit,  he  stood  agaiust  one 
of  the  columns  to  address  that  crowd  of  busy 
workers,  in  the  life  of  daily  toil  and  in  their 
own  workshop.  I  doubt  not  that  exquisite 
narrative,  since  published,  under  the  title  of 
'  The  Funeral  of  a  Yorkshireman,'  was  first 
composed  and  delivered  on  this  occasion. 
Aptly  suited  to  the  circumstances  of  the  people, 
and  having  a  local  interest  of  so  powerful  a 
kind,  his  address  was  listened  to  with  profound 
attention.  I  may  not  say  what  good  resulted 
from  this  effort ;  but  if  sighs,  sobs,  and  ex- 
clamations (quite  unusual  in  that  part  of  the 
country)  are  proofs  of  feeling,  and  that  feeling 
was  sincere,  surely  that  night  was  one  in  which 
*  the  angels  of  heaven  rejoiced  over  the  faithful 
proclamation  of  the  heavenly  message  of  peace 
and  salvation.  It  was  the  beginning  of  a  good 
work  ;  a  nail  had  been  fastened  in  a  sure 
place  ;  a  regular  prayer-meeting  was  instituted, 
and  several  persons  were  received  into  fellow- 
ship among  the  Independents  and  Wesleyans. 


280 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


"  Some  years  after  this  Mr.  Knill  visited 
Leeds  again,  and  he  received  this  testimony 
that  '  good  hands  worked  better and  that 
tract  distribution  and  prayer-meetings  '  did 
not  hinder  labour/  any  more  than  psalm- 
singing  at  the  loom  reduced  the  amount  of 
profit." 

It  must  have  been  observed  before  now,  but 
it  merits  particular  attention,  that,  though 
favoured  to  a  remarkable  extent,  with  large 
and  exciting  audiences,  Mr.  KnilFs  zeal  was 
not  limited  to  them.  He  was  as  much  moved 
by  an  individual  as  by  a  multitude,  and  seemed 
habitually  impressed  by  the  infinite  worth  of 
every  human  being.  He  therefore  rarely  per- 
mitted •  an  opportunity  of  personal  conversa- 
tion on  the  highest  topic  to  pass  unimproved, 
and  numerous  were  his  entreaties  to  his  friends 
to  pursue  this  accessible,  but  too  little  fre- 
quented path  to  usefulness.  It  was  evident 
that  he  had  made  the  method  of  successfully 
approaching  strangers  on  the  question  of  per- 
sonal religion  a  subject  of  constant  study. 
That  he  occasionally  made  mistakes,  no  one 
was  more  ready  to  admit  than  himself.  Some- 


WIDENING  HORIZON.  281 

times  a  rapidity  and  directness  of  utterance, 
which  were  meant  to  throw  off  reserve,  and 
which  indeed  most  nearly  accorded  with  his 
natural  manner,  made  the  timid  shrink  from 
further  communication,  and  the  proud  resent 
the  familiarity  by  studied  silence  ;  but  while 
the  causes  of  such  failures  were  carefully  ob- 
served with  a  view  to  prevent  their  recurrence, 
in  by  far  the  greater  number  of  instances,  the 
sincerity,  the  benevolence,  and  the  real  defer- 
ence which  declared  themselves  in  his  trans- 
parent eye  and  simple  manner,  secured  the 
confidence  which  he  never  misused.  The  in- 
stances are  too  numerous  to  admit  of  record, 
in  which  his  words  spoken  in  fitting  circum- 
stances, and  at  a  critical  moment,  came  with 
electric  power  on  individual  hearts.  It  is 
said,  that  as  many  as  a  hundred  ministers,  now 
preaching  the  gospel  at  home  and  abroad, 
trace  their  first  purpose  to  give  their  souls  to 
Christ,  or  their  lives  to  the  public  service  of 
his  church,  to  his  quickening  appeals.  From 
his  frequent  allusion,  in  conversation  and  in 
correspondence,  to  these  results,  some  may 
have  imagined  him  ostentatious ;  but  no  one 
24^ 


282 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


who  properly  understood  the  childlike  open- 
ness of  liis  disposition,  or  perceived  the  unaf- 
fected tone  of  devout  praise  in  which  such 
references  were  made,  could  retain  that  im- 
pression. So  far  from  attributing  his  useful- 
ness to  any  peculiar  wisdom  and  excellence 
of  his  own,  he  was  continually  overcome  by 
the  Divine  goodness  which  shone  in  it. 

"  This  morning,"  he  writes  to  an  intimate 
friend,  "  I  received  from  Mr.  M  the  touch- 
ing account  of  his  dear  son's  death,  and  of 
God's  love  to  me,  in  making  my  conversation 
blessed  to  him,  while  walking  on  the  road.  It 
affected  me  to  tears — indeed  to  '  strong  crying 
and  tears  for  the  dear  youth  is  only  one 
among  many  who  have  been  led  to  Christ,  not 
by  preaching,  but  by  a  tender,  pointed  conver- 
sation.   Three  letters  received  within  a  few 

days  from  K  ,  so  very  useful ;  from  S  , 

an  excellent  preacher  ;   and  now  this  from 

P  ,  is  a  rare  occurrence,  in  so  short  a  time. 

I  would  encourage  every  one  whom  I  know  to 
speak  to  their  friends  to  the  point.  God  will 
bless  it." 

If  his  sanguine  and  charitable  temperament 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


283 


sometimes  inclined  him  to  judge  too  favourably 
of  character,  it  never  led  him  to  expect  great 
results  without  toil.  Some  labour  without 
hope,  and  others  hope  without  labour  :  he  fell 
into  neither  of  these  errors,  and  when  the 
prayerful  spirit  he  maintained,  and  the  inces- 
sant diligence  with  which  he  pursued  his  work 
are  considered,  no  one  who  believes  the  Divine 
promises,  can  be  surprised  that  his  path  was 
crowded  with  blessings.  Such  notices  as  the 
following  frequently  occur  in  his  concise  jour- 
nal : 

"  January  14,  1839.  Tabernacle,  Bristol, — 
About  fifty-five  remained  after  service  to  con- 
verse with  me  about  their  souls.  Many  have 
called  since  at  my  house. 

"  l^th. — Sermon  on  the  influence  of  pious 
women.  After  service,  about  two  hundred 
women  remained  to  speak  with  me.  Lord,  fol- 
low it  with  ten  thousand  blessings ! 

"  March  3. — Preached  to  seven  thousand 
people  in  fifteen  days,  and  had  offers  from  six 
young  men  to  go  as  missionaries. 

"  April  12. — On  one  day  I  received  a  letter 
saying  that  a  sermon  had  been  blessed  to  three 


284 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


people  in  London,  and  heard  that  three  had 
been  awakened  by  the  sermon  at  Chishell. 

Sent  books  to  the  young  person  at  B  , 

who  appeared  to  get  good  from  the  service 
there. 

October  15.— Mr.  H         called  to  tell  me 

that  God  blessed  my   message  to  him  at 

W  ,  and  brought  him  to  the  Saviour.  Xow 

he  is  going  with  John  Williams  to  the  South 
Seas.  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all 
those  mercies ! 

"  December  1,  1839. — The  month  of  Novem- 
ber has  been  a  very  instructive  month  to  me. 

Mr.  B  told  me  of  three  persons  being  led 

to  the  Saviour  during  my  visit.  A  minister 
from  Turvey  informed  me  that,  when  I  attend- 
ed the  missionary  meeting  at  P  ,  it  pleosed 

God  to  convert  a  poor,  ignorant,  careless 
woman,  who  has  since  been  blessed  to  the  con- 
version of  her  husband.  When  I  was  at  Nor- 
wich, one  of  the  deacons  called  and  told  me 
that  a  person  had  lately  been  admitted  to  the 
church,  who  was  converted  under  a  sermon  I 
preached  some  years  ago.  Mr.  Venning  intro- 
duced a  man  to  me  who  was  converted  dur- 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


285 


ing  a  Christmas  sermon  at  Bradenham  Hall. 
Two  ministers,  both  Weslejans,  came  to  de- 
clare to  me  that  the  Lord  had  been  pleased  to 
call  them,  through  ray  sermons,  the  one  to  the 
work  at  home,  and  the  other  to  the  work 
abroad." 

Such  incidents  were  much  more  numerous 
than  Mr.  Knill  was  ever  aware  of.  Very  re- 
cently, a  minister  when  preaching  in  Bideford, 
stated  that  when  he  revisited  that  town  after  his 
return  from  Russia,  he  took  aside  himself  and 
one  of  his  companions,  and  having  made  them 
repeat  the  prayer,  "  0  Lord,  convert  my  soul, 
for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  Amen,"  until  it 
was  impressed  on  their  memory,  he  charged 
them  in  the  most  solemn  and  affectionate  man- 
ner to  continue  to  offer  it  until  it  was  answered. 
They  did  so  ;  and  both  are  now  ministers  of 
extensive  usefulness  :  one  in  the  Wesleyan  con- 
nexion, and  the  other  in  the  established  church. 

During  his  residence  at  Wotton-under-Edge, 
he  visited  the  Rev.  James  Spurgeon,  the  minis- 
ter of  an  ancient  chapel  of  Dr.  Watts'  at 
Stambourne,  Essex  ;  and  walking  in  the  garden 
with  his  host's  grandson,  then  about  ten  years 


286 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


old.  he  felt,  lie  afterwards  said,  a  prayerful 
concern  for  the  intelligent  and  inquiring  boy, 
sat  with  him  under  a  yew-tree,  put  his  hands 
on  his  head,  and  prayed  for  him  ;  telling  him 
at  the  close,  that  he  believed  "  lie  would  love 
Jesus  Christy  and  preach  his  gospel  in  the  larg- 
est chapel  in  the  world. ^'  When  this  curious 
prediction  obtained  something  like  fulfilment 
in  the  young  preacher  of  the  Surrey  Music 
Hall,  both  parties,  in  a  short  correspondence, 
referred  to  the  old  garden  incident  with  feel- 
ings akin  to  wonder.  Who  can  trace  the  sub- 
tle influence  of  such  suggestions  on  the  tenor  of 
one's  life  ?  All  will  at  least  be  able  to  appro- 
priate the  aspiration  prompted  by  these  occur- 
rences— "0  Lord  God  omnipotent !  Thine  is  the 
kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory.  Help 
me  as  Thy  servant  to  go  on  labouring  and  re- 
joicing. These  are  tokens  of  Thy  favour  too 
great  to  be  left  unrecorded.  What  would 
thousands  of  gold  and  silver  be,  compared  to 
the  conversion  of  souls,  and  the  calling  out  of 
preachers  ?" 

The  year  is  thus  gratefully  and  devoutly 
closed  : — 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


287 


"  December  31. — In  looking  back  on  the  past 
year,  I  find  many  things  to  call  forth  my  praise. 
I  have  laboured  in  twenty-five  English  coun- 
ties, made  two  trips  to  Ireland,  and  spent  a 
month  in  Wales.  My  general  health  has  been 
wonderfully  preserved.  My  opportunities  of 
usefulness  have  been  very  extensive,  I  having 
addressed  four  hundred  congregations  of  dif- 
ferent sizes,  by  which  the  Lord  has  given  me 
the  privilege  of  speaking  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  persons  about  tlie  salvation  of 
their  souls.  This  brings  with  it  great  re- 
sponsibility. Lord,  help  me  to  feel  it  as  one 
who  must  give  an  account !  Pity  and  save 
Thy  servant !  Amen." 

The  toil,  however,  attending  this  service  be- 
gan to  tell  sensibly  on  Mr.  Knill's  health,  and 
to  point  to  the  necessity  of  a  change.  "  You 
recollect,"  he  writes  to  a  friend  in  Leeds,  "  that 
in  my  ordination  service  I  declared  that  all  my 
days  should  be  spent  as  a  missionary.  This 
was  my  purpose,  but  I  was  compelled  to  sur- 
render it  from  failure  of  health.  Then,  when  I 
travelled  for  the  Missionary  Society,  I  thought 
I  w^as  just  in  my  proper  place,  serving  the 


288 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


same  cause  ;  but  my  health  again  failed.  In- 
deed, the  work  was  too  exciting  and  laborious 
for  any  man.  I  had  eight  years  of  it — Sab- 
baths and  week-days — not  like  the  agents  of 
the  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  who  generally 
rest  on  the  Sabbath.  In  July,  1841,  I  was 
going  through  Gloucestershire  for  the  mission, 
my  health  very  feeble,  nerves  shaken  by  over- 
work, and  a  slight  fever  caught  at  Chatham. 
I  preached  in  Rowland  Hill's  pulpit.  A  deep 
feeling  pervaded  the  congregation,  and  two 
persons,  in  opposite  conditions  of  life,  a  young 
lady  and  an  old  wicked  soldier,  were  con- 
verted. The  people  pressed  me  to  preach  for 
a  month,  and  at  last  to  become  their  minister. 
I  knew  not  what  to  do.  I  sighed  for  rest.  I 
proceeded  to  London,  and  the  directors  giving 
their  consent,  I  went  to  Wotton-under-Edge 
on  the  first  of  January,  1842."'^ 

This  place,  which  he  had  repeatedly  visited 
and  admired,  was  suited  both  to  his  state  of 

*  The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  soon  after  1771,  built  a  *'  taber- 
nacle," a  range  of  alms-houses,  and  a  summer  residence  in 
tliis  place,  and  till  the  close  of  his  life,  in  1833,  divided  hia 
labours  between  it  and  London. 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


289 


health  and  to  the  peculiarities  of  his  ministry. 
The  rich  scenery  and  rural  quiet  which  it  sup- 
plied, restored  the  tone  of  his  mind,  and  the 
neighbourhood  presented  facilities  for  that 
union  of  the  pastoral  and  missionary  functions 
to  which  his  tastes  impelled  him.  The  faith- 
ful labours  of  several  of  his  predecessors  had 
left  impressions  on  the  hearts  of  many  in  the 
congregation,  which  waited  for  the  quickening 
influences  of  a  spiritual  spring-time.  That 
period  came  with  the  vivacity  and  devout 
energy  of  his  addresses  in  the  pulpit,  and 
the  familiar  and  kind  intercourse  which  he 
maintained  with  the  people  in  their  homes  and 
by  the  way-sides.  There  was  an  almost  gene- 
ral revival  of  religious  feeling  among  Chris- 
tians ;  and  numbers  who  had  been  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins  were  "  added  to  the  Lord." 

The  heart  of  the  system  being  animated,  the 
warmth  was  quickly  transmitted  to  the  ex- 
tremities. All  converts  were  urged  to  bear 
some  part  in  their  Master's  work  ;  and  he  was 
able,  in  1846,  to  say  to  a  friend,  "  Eight  of 
our  members  were  at  work  on  Sunday  last  in 
six  parishes,  and  preached  to  about  seven  hun- 
25  19 


290 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


dred  precious  souls.  We  have  five  Sunday- 
schools  in  the  villages,  which  call  for  much 
care  and  labour.  Our  Tabernacle  Sunday- 
school  is  large,  and  God  continues  to  smile 
upon  the  labours  of  our  self-denying  teachers." 
Among  the  sixty  assistants  at  prayer-meetings, 
and  the  twelve  village  preachers,  whose  services 
he  directed,  there  were,  it  was  acknowledged, 
a  great  variety  of  gifts  ;  but  considering  that, 
"  in  the  absence  of  gaslight,  a  glimmering  lamp 
is  better  than  total  darkness,"  he  encouraged 
their  endeavours,  and  did  what  he  could  to 
cultivate  their  powers.  He  says  of  the  Brit- 
ish schools,  which  had  been  improved,  and 
accommodated  with  a  spacious  school-house, 
through  his  exertions  : — "  They  are  likely  to 
be  a  great  help  to  us.  Some  of  our  pious 
youth  have  had  few  opportunities  of  reading, 
or  writing,  or  speaking  correctly  ;  but  seve- 
ral, who  have  become  concerned  about  their 
souls,  are  now  attending  an  evening-school. 
This  comes  nobly  to  our  help  ;  and  I  hope  to 
live  to  see  the  day  when  not  one  of  our  young 
men  who  engage  in  public  services  shall  offend 
the  ear  of  a  good  grammarian."    All  these 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


291 


villages  he  visited  personally  at  short  inter- 
vals. At  two  of  them — Hawkesbury  and 
Charfield — he  procured  the  erection  of  suit- 
able chapels,  and  the  services,  for  a  season,  of 
students  from  the  Western  Academy ;  while 
the  converts  were  either  formed  into  small 
local  churches,  or  united  to  the  society  at  the 
Tabernacle,  which,  during  the  period  of  his 
residence,  was  doubled  in  numbers. 

It  was  Mr.  Knill's  settled  conviction  that 
his  ministry  was  specially  adapted  to  the 
awakening  and  gathering  in  of  sinners  ;  and 
when  he  thought  he  saw  that  object,  to  any 
marked  degree,  accomplished  in  one  place,  he 
became  eager  to  pass  to  "  regions  beyond." 
On  approaching  the  close  of  the  sixth  year  of 
his  work  at  Wotton,  a  variety  of  considera- 
tions conspired  to  impress  him  with  the  belief 
that  it  ought  to  be  left  to  the  careful  cultiva- 
tion of  a  new  labourer,  and  he  began  to  look 
around  for  another  spot  to  which  his  peculiar 
gifts  might  be  advantageously  applied.  During 
several  visits,  in  the  cause  of  missions,  to 
Chester,  the  claims  of  that  city  appeared  to 
him  singularly  great,  and,  under  the  advice  of 


292 


WIDENING  HORIZON. 


several  ministers  of  sound  experience,  he  ac- 
ceded to  the  unanimous  invitation  of  the  church 
in  Queen  Street  to  become  their  pastor.  With 
profound  sorrow  his  flock  at  Wotton  heard 
from  his  own  lips,  at  the  last  communion  sea- 
son of  the  year,  that  he  had  resolved  to  leave 
them.  The  sensitiveness  of  his  heart  prevented 
him  allowing  a  long  interval  to  elapse  between 
the  announcement  of  this  purpose  and  its  con- 
summation. The  four  weeks  of  affectionate 
leave-taking  which  followed  was  as  much  as  he 
could  endure  ;  and  on  the  last  day  of  the  year, 
bearing  costly  tokens  of  love,  he  left  a  home  in 
one  of  the  loveliest  vales  in  England  for  an- 
other within  the  old  walls  of  Chester. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Sunset. 


"Faith,  perseverance,  zeal, 

Language  of  light  and  power ; 
Love,  prompt  to  act  and  quick  to  feel, 
Marked  thee  till  Ufe's  last  hour." 

Montgomery. 

25* 

(293) 


SUNSET. 

The  church  of  which  Mr.  Knill  now  assumed 
the  charge  represented  the  families  which  had 
enjoyed  the  ministry  of  Matthew  Henry,  and 
which,  when  his  successors  fell  into  Unitarian- 
ism,  retired  and  formed  a  separate  community. 
At  this  period  it  was  dispirited  by  heavy 
financial  burdens,  and  was  slow  to  believe  that 
prosperity,  either  temporal  or  spiritual,  was  at 
hand.  The  hope  and  energy,  however,  of  the 
new  pastor  quickly  diffused  themselves.  Im- 
mediately on  his  settlement  he  addressed  him- 
self to  the  task  of  becoming  acquainted  with 
the  people  individually,  at  their  own  homes, 
and  establishing  between  them  and  himself,  as 
far  as  possible,  sympathy  and  unity  of  purpose. 
He  then  showed  them,  that  what  he  had  in 
view  could  not  be  accomplished  if  their  efforts 
were  limited  to  those  who  already  attended 
the  chapel,  but  that  they  must  conjointly  go 

(295) 


296 


SUNSET. 


fortli  to  the  desolate  wastes  around  them.  He 
very  soon  proved  that  he  had  no  intention  of 
sparing  himself  in  this  enterprise  ;  for,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  exhausting  labours  of  visitation, 
he  opened  places  in  the  neglected  parts  of  the 
city  and  its  suburbs,  for  preaching.  Boughton, 
Handbridge,  and  King  Charles'  Chapel,  as  he 
called  the  spacious  hall  of  an  old  mansion  in 
which  the  first  monarch  of  that  name  is  said  to 
have  lodged  before  the  battle  of  Rowton  Moor, 
became  new  centres  of  light  and  power,  and 
many  persons  who  had  resigned  themselves  to 
a  total  neglect  of  religious  ordinances  were 
awakened  and  introduced  to  the  Christian 
course  which  they  still  pursue.  This  activity 
told  powerfully  on  the  members  of  the  church 
themselves,  whom  he  was  most  anxious  to 
make  "  fit  company "  for  the  new  converts. 
"  No  man,"  he  said,  "  likes  to  go  into  an  ice- 
cellar — it  is  too  cold  ;  few  people  like  to  be  in 
a  room  with  dead  bodies — there  is  death  ;  and 
a  sleepy,  lukewarm  church  has  something  in  it 
so  repelling  that  I  wonder  how  any  one  can 
remain  in  it.  Let  the  members  of  this  church 
shine  forth  in  all  the  splendour  of  holy  living, 


SUNSET. 


297 


and  the  influences  of  it  on  others  will  be  aston- 
ishing. Look  on  them  :  their  heads  plannm,:^ 
for  good — their  hands  working  for  God — their 
tongues  crying, '  Behold  the  Lamb !'  Is  there 
nothing  in  all  this  to  attract  an  inquiring 
youth  ? — nothing  to  catch  the  sympathies  of  a 
sinner  just  brought  out  of  darkness  into  mar- 
vellous light  V 

As  this  work  was  beginning  to  expand,  it 
pleased  God  to  draw  the  chief  instrument  in 
it  nearer  to  Himself  by  successive  trials. 
Scarcely  had  he  recovered  from  several  weeks 
of  extreme  prostration,  produced  by  having 
been  called  to  give  evidence  in  a  court  of  jus- 
tice, on  a  trial  which  he  had  in  vain  laboured 
to  prevent,  when  his  home  became  the  scene  of 
sickness  and  mourning.  An  interesting  young 
person,  the  orphan  daughter  of  his  nephew, 
who  had  been  adopted  into  his  family,  and 
brought  up  with  an  affection  which  she  cordi- 
ally returned,  was  seized  with  fatal  illness  in 
her  eighteenth  year.  About  the  same  time, 
Samuel,  his  only  remaining  son,  was  laid  low. 
When  at  school  in  Totteridge,  this  youth  was 
attracted  to  Christ,  and  became  anxious  to 


298 


SUNSET. 


devote  himself  to  the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 
He  indicated,  in  many  ways,  an  aptitude  for 
such  duties,  and  was  eventually  received  into 
the  Lancashire  Independent  College  ;  but  had 
not  long  pursued  his  studies,  before  his  state 
of  health  compelled  him  to  desist.  After  re- 
maining a  short  while  at  home,  in  great  weak- 
ness, he  was  induced  to  accept  the  invitation 
of  a  friend  to  visit  America.  His  journeys, 
however,  in  the  far-west  of  that  continent 
proved  exhausting,  and  at  the  close  he  was 
"just  well  enough  to  get  home."'  He  spoke 
with  much  gratitude  of  the  kindness  he  re- 
ceived in  many  places  for  his  father's  sake. 
When  sailing,  for  example,  on  one  of  the  great 
lakes,  sad  and  disconsolate,  a  passenger  pre- 
sented to  him  the  tract  called  The  Russian 
Nurse,"  with  the  request  that  he  would  peruse 
it.  He  thanked  the  stranger,  and  added — 
"  This  woman  nursed  7?ze."  The  communica- 
tions which  followed,  led  to  acts  of  the  most 
considerate  kindness,  of  which,  at  that  time,  he 
stood  particularly  in  need.  On  his  return  to 
England,  his  health  so  much  revived  as  to 
permit  him  to  address  occasionally  the  smaller 


SUNSET. 


299 


meetings  iu  Chester,  and  at  length  to  take 
charge  of  a  congregation  at  Sutton,  not  far 
from  the  city.    A  church  consisting  at  first  of 
twelve  members  was  formed  under  his  minis- 
try ;  and  having  taken  lodgings  in  the  village, 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  proceeding  thither  on 
the  Saturday  evening,  and  returning  on  Mon- 
day, going  back  on  Wednesday,  and  returning 
on  Thursday — thus  spending  about  four  days 
every  week  among  his  little  flock.    The  con- 
gregations became  crowded  and  most  atten- 
tive ;  Bible-classes  and  Sunday-schools  were 
established,  and  sinners  were  converted.  But 
his  strength  was  soon  spent,  and  his  visits  were 
frequently  intermitted.    After  a  long  period 
of  silence,  he  expressed  an  intense  desire  to  be 
present  at  the  first  missionary  meeting,  and  his 
father,  anxious  to  gratify  such  a  wish,  took 
him  over  with  great  care.    It  was  his  last 
visit.    A  few  affectionate  words,  which  were 
all  he  could  utter,  closed  his  short  ministry  ; 
and  he  returned  home  to  complete  the  last 
stage  of  his  heavenward  journey  under  parental 
care. 

"  Dear  Sam,''  his  father  writes  to  the  Rev. 


300 


SUNSET. 


W.  Swan,  on  September  26,  1849,  "  is  kept  in 
a  very  tranquil  state,  but  I  hear  him  coughing 
now.  My  dear  wife  is  able  to  attend  to  him 
night  and  day,  and  he  wants  all  a  mother's 
love.  Polly,  a  great-niece  of  mine,  whom  we 
took  to  train  for  God,  is  also  dying  ;  she,  I 
trust,  is  safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus.  It  is  very 
soothing,  in  the  midst  of  our  anxiety,  to  have 
good  ground  to  hope  that  they  have  committed 
their  precious  souls  to  Jesus."  To  his  old 
friend,  the  Rev.  J.  Lewis,  he  unburdens  his 
heart  thus  on  21st  December,  1849  : — "  I  have 
often  written  you,  but  never  under  such  painful 
feelings  as  at  present.  Dear  Samuel,  the 
object  of  our  hopes,  and  prayers,  and  joys,  and 
the  source  of  many  anxieties  also,  has  left  his 
weeping  parents  in  the  wilderness.  Yesterday 
morning  his  spirit  left  the  poor,  worn-out  and 
enfeebled  body,  and  I  believe  Jesus  received 
him  into  glory.  He  died  with  that  precious 
name  upon  his  tongue.  Our  judgment  ap- 
proves, and  faith  sees  him  in  heaven  ;  but 
nature  feels.  My  beloved  wife  is  much  over- 
come. She  has  nursed  him  night  and  day  for 
a  twelvemonth,  and  scarcely  ever  left  him  for 


SUNSET. 


301 


half  an  hour,  and,  though  wonderfully  strength- 
ened while  Samuel  lived,  she  is  crushed  be- 
neath a  weight  of  sorrow — not  for  him,  but  for 
herself,  and  Mary,  and  me." 

"  The  dear  Devonshire  girl,  whom  we 
brought  up  with  our  daughter,"  he  mentions  in 
a  note  to  Sir  John  B.  Williams,  a  few  days 
later, died  on  the  26th  of  October,  while  my 
son  was  dying  in  a  room  below.  But  we  were 
comforted  in  her  death,  and  liad  a  rich  reward 
for  love  to  an  orphan.  We  felt  greatly  com- 
forted by  your  few  words  of  sympathy.  There 
are  times  when  even  a  smile  or  a  tear  will  pro- 
duce rapture,  and  surely,  next  to  the  favour  of 
God,  we  ought  to  esteem  the  kind  feelings  of 
God's  servants." 

These  private  sorrows  fed  the  lamp  of  his 
zeal ;  and  his  religious  services  in  the  city  be- 
came most  abundant.  Though  he  attached  the 
highest  importance  to  the  teaching  of  the  pul- 
pit, he  considered  that  he  had  a  special  calling 
in  the  homes  of  his  people.  In  the  course  of 
a  few  months,  he  knew  more  of  the  streets  and 
antique  lanes  of  Chester  than  many  who  had 
dwelt  among  them  during  long  lives.  He 
26 


302 


SUNSET. 


seldom  found  any  dijfficulty  in  reaching  the 
hearts  of  the  rudest  of  their  inmates ;  but, 
dispensing  with  all  introduction,  he  generally 
succeeded,  both  in  suggesting  his  object,  and 
in  placing  himself  on  a  friendly  footing,  by 
the  first  sentence.  "John,"  he  would  say, 
guessing  at  the  name,  when  he  did  not  know  it, 
"what,  think  you,  crossed  my  mind  as  I 
knocked  at  your  door  "  Cannot  tell,  sir." 
"  The  people  who  live  here,"  thought  I,  "  have 
immortal  souls  :  I  wonder  whether  they  are 
saved  and  happy."  "  Pray  sit  down,  sir," 
would  follow  ;  and  the  conversation,  though 
short,  would  generally  end  in  a  deep  impression. 

His  great  kindness  to  the  poor  could  not  re- 
main hid  ;  and  it  often  exhibited  itself  in  a 
form  so  artless  and  cordial,  as  to  give  to  it  a 
singular  charm.  If  he  saw  a  labourer,  of 
whom  he  knew  nothing,  eating  dry  bread  for 
his  noonday  meal,  he  would  stop  and  say, 
"  What !  only  bread !"  and,  inviting  him  to 
follow  to  the  nearest  shop,  would  send  him 
back  with  a  ration  of  cheese.  Hearing,  in  the 
course  of  a  walk,  that  a  pious  widow  was  in 
great  want,  he  went  to  a  shop  and  ordered 


SUNSET. 


303 


food  to  be  sent  to  her  instantly  ;  and  entering 
the  house  some  time  after,  he  found  her  with 
the  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks,  in  the  midst 
of  her  dancing  children,  giving  thanks  to  God 
for  an  unknown  benefactor.  Such  a  sight  was 
to  him  the  richest  gratification. 

So  much  importance  did  he  attach  to  the  use 
of  this  remarkable  talent  for  personal  commu- 
nication, that  he  often  went  to  chapel  half  an 
hour  before  the  time,  that  he  might  converse 
with  the  people,  and,  by  a  few  well-directed 
remarks,  prepare  them  for  the^  service.  When 
his  labours  in  different  parts  of  the  city  had 
sent  to  his  congregations  at  Queen  Street  per- 
sons imaccustomed  to  the  house  of  God,  he 
was  most  anxious,  by  such  kind  attentions,  to 
make  them  feel  at  home.  Occasionally,  how- 
ever, the  force  of  his  thrusts  would  alarm  them. 
To  a  man  who  had  been  induced  to  come  to 
the  Thursday  evening  lecture,  he  exclaimed,  as 
he  came  up  to  him,  "  How  much  better  to  be 
here  than  in  the  public-house,  singing  '  Rule 
Brittania  T  "  Now,''  said  the  man  after- 
wards, "  that  was  the  very  song  for  which  I 
was  famous  ;  and  as  I  thought  he  must  know 


304 


SUNSET. 


all  about  me,  I  staid  away  for  some  time  ;  but 
I  afterwards  found  he  was  always  throwing 
such  great  paving-stones  as  were  sure  to  hit 
some  one." 

There  was  no  class  of  persons,  indeed,  whom 
he  feared  to  encounter,  or  despaired  of  bless- 
ing. When  about,  one  day,  to  enter  a  carriage 
at  the  Chester  Railway  Station,  he  observed 
Bome  officers  putting  a  band  of  chained  prison- 
ers into  an  apartment  of  an  inferior  carriage 
by  themselves.  He  was  immediately  touched 
with  compassion,  and  begged  to  be  allowed  to 
accompany  them.  The  officers  seemed  sur- 
prised at  his  desire,  but  made  no  objection. 
He  spoke  to  them  with  such  power,  that  most 
of  them  were  in  tears  ;  and  before  he  left,  he 
knelt  down,  at  their  request,  and  offered  up 
fervent  prayers  for  their  reconciliation  both  to 
man  and  God. 

In  the  course  of  his  ministry,  great  impor- 
tance was  attached  to  family  religion  ;  and  it 
was  observed  that  family  prayer  became  much 
more  carefully  observed  among  Christians,  and 
greatly  extended  among  the  poor.  It  delight- 
ed him  to  learn  that  a  poor  man's  house  had 


SUNSET. 


305 


become  "  sanctified  by  the  Word  of  God  and 
by  prayer  and  sometimes,  after  a  late  walk 
about  the  city,  he  would  come  home  filled  with 
joy  by  the  sounds  of  sacred  song  which  he  had 
overheard.  On  one  occasion,  when  passing 
near  a  place  in  which  there  had  been  much 
wickedness,  his  ear  was  thus  greeted  ;  and, 
without  disturbing  the  humble  worshippers,  he 
wrote  with  the  point  of  his  walking-stick  on 
the  smoky  ceiling  of  the  passage,  "Salvation 
is  come  to  Parry's  Entry."  The  inscription 
continued  on  the  memories  of  many  long  after 
it  had  vanished  from  the  roof,  and  salvation 
itself  still  remains  among  the  inhabitants. 

The  church  had  now  been  so  much  revived, 
that  it  was  thought  desirable  to  make  an  at- 
tempt to  throw  off  at  least  part  of  the  load  of 
debt  which  depressed  its  energies,  and  abridg- 
ed its  ability  to  aid  in  the  evangelization  of 
the  world.  Nothing  now  seemed  impossible ; 
and  the  effort  which  followed,  both  then  and 
at  a  later  period,  tended  to  call  out  the  activ- 
ity and  to  unite  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
There  were  few  who  did  not  taste  the  enjoy- 
ment of  self-denial  in  a  good  cause.  Families 
26*  20 


306 


SUNSET. 


in  yery  humble  circumstance  worked  at  the 
needle  during  the  evenings  of  a  whole  winter, 
and  poor  men  gave  themselves  to  various  kinds 
of  industry  in  addition  to  their  necessary  toil, 
that  they  might  have  some  share  in  the  enter- 
prise. 

Mr.  Knill,  in  the  meanwhile,  went  over  the 
wide  range  of  his  correspondents  in  all  parts 
of  the  earth,  and  in  few  instances  failed  to  re- 
ceive a  cordial  response.  Some  incidents  of 
that  correspondence  greatly  interested  him. 
One  of  them  he  alludes  to  in  a  letter  to  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Henderson,  dated  22d  December, 
1851  : — "Befoi-e  the  year  ends,  I  feel  anxious 
to  send  you  a  line,  to  express  our  hopes  and 
prayers  for  your  health,  and  peace,  and  joy. 
We  have  a  full  covenant,  great  and  precious 
promises,  a  faithful  and  unchanging  God.  I 
hope  you  feel  Him  very  near  to  your  souls.  I 
preached  yesterday  from  '  They  feared  when 
they  entered  into  the  cloud  and  so,  I  sup- 
pose, we  all  have  at  times,  though  Christ  was 
there.  Thirty-five  years  ago,  I  had  a  Bible- 
class  in  Mr.  Loveless'  boarding-school.  One 
of  my  favourite  boys  is  now  a  merchant  in 


SUNSET. 


307 


Madras  ;  but  most  of  the  others  are  dead,  or 
in  other  parts  of  the  world.  In  August  last 
I  wrote  to  this  gentleman,  and  told  him  of 
Chester,  and  of  our  efforts  to  remove  the  debt. 
This  month  I  have  received  a  very  affectionate 
letter  from  him,  with  £25  ;  and  he  adds, 
*  When  I  gave  your  salutations  to  the  church, 
a  member  stated  that  he  knew  you ;  heard 
you  preach  at  Shrewsbury,  in  November,  1840, 
from  Galations  i.  15,  16  ;  and  that  that  sermon 
led  him  to  become  a  servant  of  God.'  lie  sent 
<£10.  This  is  the  first  notice  I  ever  heard  of 
the  young  man,  and  I  assure  you  it  cheered  me 
exceedingly.  I  hardly  slept  that  night.  I 
hope  you  will  both  meet  with  precious  souls  in 
heaven,  helped  thither  by  your  pens  or  by 
your  lips.  We  ought  to  anticipate  great 
things,  for  God's  Word  will  not  return  unto 
Him  void." 

This  work  had  scarcely  been  brought  to  a 
successful  termination,  before  an  undertaking 
more  unusual,  and  much  more  congenial,  pre- 
sented itself  to  his  mind.  His  missionary 
longings  always  predominant,  he  was  in  con- 
stant dread  of  settling  down  into  the  minister 


308 


SUNSET. 


of  a  select  congregation,  to  -wliicli  the  gospel 
had  been  long  familiar  ;  and  although  he  had 
succeeded  in  crowding  a  spacious  edifice  with 
persons  of  whom  a  large  proportion  had  been 
induced  to  attend  public  worship  through  his 
labours,  he  began  to  sigh  for  opportunities  of 
preaching  to  multitudes  among  whom  Jesus 
Christ  had  not  been  so  much  as  named.  Some 
might  have  imagined  that,  in  a  city  of  moder- 
ate population,  largely  supplied  with  clergy  of 
the  national  church  and  non-conformist  divines, 
such  persons  could  not  be  found.  He,  how- 
ever, did  not  entertain  that  impression,  but 
believed  that  thousands  were  perishing  within 
sound  of  the  cathedral  chimes,  entertaining 
objections  to  entering  within  the  walls  of  any 
sacred  place  so  strong  that  nothing  but  unu- 
sual measures  could  overcome  them.  Meeting 
a  pious  working-man  in  the  street  one  day,  he 
said,  in  his  usual  non-prefatory  style,  "  I  am 
just  going  to  order  gas  for  the  theatre." 

Are  you  then,  sir,  going  to  leave  the  chapel 
for  repairs  ?" 

''Oh,  no  ;  I  am  going  to  preach  there  for 
twenty  Sabbaths." 


SUNSET. 


309 


"  What,  sir,  in  the  play-house 

"  Yes  ;  the  people  will  go  to  a  play-house 
when  they  won't  go  to  chapels ;  and  they 
must  hear  the  gospel." 

Such  was  his  resolution,  and  such  his  reason. 
An  old  building,  not  far  from  the  cathedral, 
which  had  formerly  been  a  chapel  dedicated  to 
St.  Nicholas,  but  had  long  been  used  as  a 
theatre,  was  about  to  pass  from  the  hands  of 
the  lessee  to  those  of  the  "  Chapter,'*  to  be 
rebuilt  for  purposes  more  consonant  with  the 
improved  tastes  of  the  day.  Mr.  Knill,  having 
ascertained  that  he  might,  for  a  moderate  sum, 
obtain  the  use  of  this  building  on  Sundays  for 
the  remainder  of  the  lease,  determined  on 
securing  it.  He  had  not  so  many  precedents 
for  the  use  of  secular  buildings  in  preaching  to 
the  masses  as  he  would  have  had  a  year  or 
two  later,  and  yet  it  was  not  to  be  the  first 
time  he  proclaimed  the  gospel  in  a  theatre.  On 
February  7,  1836,  he  wrote  in  his  journal  : — 

"  In  the  evening,  preached  at  the  theatre, 
Milton  Street,  formerly  called  Grub  Street. 
The  scene  was  novel  and  very  affecting.  Pit 
full  ;   boxes  full  ;  gallery  full,  chiefly  with 


310 


SUNSET. 


rude  children,  affording  good  materials  for 
future  labourers.  Lord,  bless  the  efforts  of 
Thy  people  to  illuminate  and  sanctify  hearts 
in  that  neighbourhood  !  " 

This  incident,  however,  he  had  probably  for- 
gotten, as  he  does  not  appear  to  have  mention- 
ed it  to  any  of  his  friends,  with  a  view  to  re- 
move their  apprehensions  of  failure.  He  had 
himself  no  fears,  but  proceeded,  nevertheless, 
with  his  usual  good  sense,  to  have  every  proper 
arrangement  made  under  his  own  eye.  He 
earnestly  requested  his  stated  congregation 
not  to  follow  him  ;  but  he  accepted  the  con- 
voy of  his  deacons,  and  the  aid  of  the  choir, 
for  which  he  had  taken  the  precaution  to  pro- 
cure a  good  harmonium. 

The  first  service  was  announced  by  placards 
for  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  21st  November, 
1852.  The  weather  proved  most  unfavourable, 
and  the  streets  were  deluged  with  rain.  Few 
persons  were  observed  on  the  way,  and,  as  he 
approached  the  place,  he  found  some  coming 
slowly  away,  as  if  they  had  concluded  that  no- 
thing was  to  be  done.  "  Won't  you  return 
he  said.    "  There  is  no  more  room,"  was  the 


SUNSET. 


311 


answer.  Such  was  the  fact.  The  sight  was 
overpowering  to  the  speaker,  and  the  whole 
service  produced  a  deep  impression  on  the 
auditory.  This  was  repeated  from  week  to 
week.  "  Last  Sunday,"  he  writes,  "  was  my 
fourth  service.  The  place  was  densely  crowd- 
ed. We  do  not  print  any  bills  now,  but  I 
give  a  verbal  announcement  to  fifteen  or 
eighteen  hundred.  I  cannot  describe  the  con- 
gregation. The  theatrical  appearance,  the 
crowd,  the  profound  attention,  the  oft-falling 
tear,  are  all  very  cheering.  Two  hopeful  con- 
versions, some  brought  to  decision,  and  pleas- 
ing appearances  in  more,  are  good  indications 
of  Divine  approval.  God  is  evidently  moving 
among  us.  I  know  only  a  few  faces,  and  that 
was  my  hope  and  prayer.  The  expenses  will 
amount  to  about  £60^  and  all  the  money  is 
safe,  either  in  the  Chester  Bank,  or  in  the 
Bank  of  Faith." 

It  was  one  of  the  numerous  proofs  of  the 
cordial  feeling  which  existed  between  Mr. 
Knill  and  other  Christian  ministers,  that  one 
of  the  clergymen  of  the  city,  who  several 
times  attended  these  services,  and  took  the 


312 


SUNSET. 


deepest  interest  in  tliem,  entreated  tlie  privi- 
lege of  paying  the  cost  of  the  gas,  observing 
that,  if  he  could  not  supply  the  heavenly,  it 
might  be  permitted  to  him  to  contribute  tlie 
earthly,  light. 

During  the  whole  of  the  time  occupied  by 
this  special  work,  Mr.  Knill  was  by  no  means 
well.  The  gout  affected  him  so  much  that  he 
could  not  preach  in  a  standing  position,  but 
had  to  rest  on  his  knees.  "  It  seems  rather 
remarkable,"  he  says,  "  but  doubtless  God  has 
good  reasons  for  it,  that  I  am  kept  to  the 
house,  except  on  Sundays  and  week-evening 
services.  It  crossed  me  at  first;  but  it  must 
be  well."  It  certainly  did  not  diminish  the 
power  of  his  ministry.  His  words  as  arrows, 
pierced  the  consciences  of  some  of  the  most 
hardened  sinners.  In  the  upper  galleries, 
where  no  eye  could  light  upon  them  but  that 
of  God,  numbers  of  these  outcasts  from  all 
the  ordinary  means  of  religious  instruction 
congregated,  and  were  arrested.  "I  was  a 
blasphemer,"  writes  one,  "  and  cared  neither 
for  God  nor  man  ;  I  got  into  the  darkest  cor- 
ner of  the  place  to  make  game  with  my  com- 


SUNSET. 


313 


rades ;  but  when  the  sermon  began,  it  drew 
such  a  picture  of  my  life  that  I  thought  some 
one  had  been  telling  him  all  about  me. 
"During  this  discourse  the  terror  of  the  Lord 
was  on  my  soul ;  and  when  it  was  ended  I 
went  home,  but  found  the  truth  of  the  words, 
*  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the 
wicked until  at  length  '  old  things  passed 
away,  and  all  things  became  new.' "  No 
time  was  occupied  in  these  sermons  with 
humorous  introductions  or  general  disserta- 
tions on  morals,  but  the  fortress  of  the  enemy 
was  at  once  assaulted  by  vivid  exhibitions 
of  the  word  of  life  ;  and  numbers  of  persons, 
not  only  convinced  of  the  propriety  of 
reformation,  but  actually  reformed  through 
"  the  faith  of  Christ"  and  the  "  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,"  were  united  to  the  church  in 
Queen  Street,  and  to  various  other  churches 
in  the  city. 

This  effort  increased  his  pastoral  work,  for 
some  time,  to  an  extent  which  might  have 
seemed  sufficient  for  his  declining  physical 
energies.  But  what  he  had  said  of  the  great- 
hearted tutor  at  Gosport  was  true  of  himself 
27 


314 


SUNSET. 


- — SO  long  as  there  was  a  spot  of  fallow- 
ground  in  the  county,  he  could  take  no  rest." 
In  the  summer  of  1855  he  formed  a  project, 
which,  though  never  fully  accomplished,  show- 
ed the  unabated  freshness  of  his  spirit.  He 
entered  into  a  correspondence  with  his  breth- 
ren in  the  chief  towns  of  Cheshire,  proposing 
to  visit  them,  and  preach  in  their  public  rooms, 
streets,  and  market-places  ;  remaining  a  day 
or  two  in  each  locality,  with  the  view  of  enter- 
ing into  conversation,  holding  private  confer- 
ferences,  and  distributing  religious  tracts. 

The  proposition  was  cordially  accepted ; 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  tour,  and  in 
the  first  week  of  July,  having  procured  about 
13,000  tracts,  he  sorted,  packed,  and  sent  them 
off  to  the  several  towns,  with  the  fearless  hope 
and  almost  boyish  delight  with  which  he  went 
forth  to  the  evangelization  of  the  North  Devon 
militia.  He  followed  his  printed  messengers, 
and  preached  every  evening  from  Monday  to 
Saturday.  On  the  Sunday  he  preached  three 
times  in  Congleton,  with  great  ani  mation  ; 
closing  his  services  there  with  a  discourse  in 
the  market-place,  on  Monday  evening,  to  a 


SUNSET. 


315 


very  large  audience.  On  the  following  morn- 
ing he  returned  home,  to  prepare  for  another 
and  similar  journey.  He  appeared  in  excel- 
lent health  and  spirits,  and  spoke  most  grate- 
fully of  the  attention  with  which  liis  message 
had  been  received.  In  a  little  while  he  retired 
to  his  study  ;  but  soon  afterwards  called  for 
Mrs.  Knill,  who  was  instantly  at  his  side.  A 
blood-vessel  had  broken,  and  the  blood  flowed 
profusely  from  his  nostrils.  It  was  a  moment 
of  anguish  and  alarm  ;  introducing  tliose 
months  of  prostration  and  waning  power 
which  formed  the  last  scene  of  his  active  life. 

Through  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  assidu- 
ous attention  which  was  paid  to  him,  he  was 
considerably  revived  before  the  autumn  ;  and 
on  the  15th  October,  1855,  he  was  able  to 
write  this  comforting  letter  to  an  old  friend  : 

"  Dear  Mr.  Venning, — Our  adorable  Sav- 
iour '  par  done  th  and  absolve  th  all  them  that 
truly  repent  and  unfeignedly  believe  His  holy 
gospel.'  Cheer  up,  then,  dear  friend.  May  your 
evidences  shine  brighter  and  brighter,  till  the 
sun  sets  in  glory !  The  tabernacle,  you  feel, 
is  feeble  ;  but  a  '  house  not  made  with  hands' 


316 


SUNSET. 


will  follow.  I  bless  God  for  the  hope  that  I 
shall  soon  be  '  with  the  Lord.'  I  have  much 
to  endear  life.  I  love  my  family  ;  I  love  my 
church  ;  I  love  dear  friends — but  I  could  joy- 
fully part  with  all  to  be  for  ever  with  Him. 
Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  kept  in  this 
heavenly  frame.  Death  has  but  one  sting, 
and  that  has  been  taken  out  by  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord.  Hallelujah." 

Similar  language  he  repeats  in  a  beautiful 
note,  written  about  the  same  time.  Who 
would  not  desire  to  close  life  with  equal 
serenity  ? 

"  My  agony  at  Liverpool,  for  some  hours, 
was  greater  than  I  recollect  to  have  ever 
endured  before  :  but  I  was  very  happy  and 
willing,  if  the  Lord  pleased,  to  depart  and  to 
be  with  Him.  It  has  been  a  blessed  world  to 
me,  and  a  blessed  church  to  me.  Not  one 
good  thing  has  failed  of  all  that  the  Lord  has 
promised.  I  have  as  much  happiness  in  my 
family,  and  with  my  friends,  as  could  be  ex- 
pected by  mortals  ;  but  i  feol  perfectly  assured 
that  the  blessedness  of  heaven  is  exceedingly 
abundant,  above  all  tliat  we  have  thought  or 


SUNSET. 


317 


seen.  I  tliauk  you  for  all  your  friendship  and 
affection." 

The  early  months  of  1856  were  cold  and 
harsh,  and  he  was  much  confined  to  the  house  ; 
but  whenever  the  weather  was  at  all  favour- 
able, he  would  go  out,  and  be  often  absent  for 
hours.  He  walked  slowly  and  feebly,  but 
sometimes  accomplished  the  entire  circuit  of 
the  promenade  on  the  city  walls  ;  diverging 
occasionally  to  the  houses  of  the  sick  or  poor, 
where  he  was  only  able,  after  sitting  thought- 
fully for  a  few  moments,  to  rise  and  take  his 
leave,  saying  touchingly,  "  The  Lord  be  with 
you,"  or  "  Peace  be  to  you."  The  children  of 
his  flock  he  never  passed  without  speaking  to 
them,  laying  his  hands  on  their  heads,  and 
returning  their  bright  smiles.  These  transient 
ministeries,  indeed,  were  often  more  fruitful 
than  elaborate  exhortations.  "  It  seemed  to 
me,"  said  one,  "  that  he  never  finished  preach- 
ing ;  a  word  or  two  when  meeting  him  on  the 
'street  were  as  good  as  a  sermon.'' 

It  was  interesting  to  notice  how  those  sym- 
pathies, which  had  never  been  withheld  from 
any  class,  began  to  flow  with  increasing  ful- 
27* 


31B 


SUNSET. 


ness  towards  the  aged,  as  his  own  infirmities 
multiplied.  In  one  of  the  few  notes  which  he 
was  now  able  to  pen,  he  writes  to  Mr.  Ven- 
ning, on  the  4th  December,  1856  : 

"  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  wrote  to  you,  and 
I  am  very  anxious  to  hear  how  you  are.  I 
have  ventured  out  to-day  for  the  first  time  this 
month,  but  the  frost  and  snow  are  too  severe 
for  my  poor  body.  How  are  you,  dear  friend? 
Can  you  bear  the  cold,  or  are  you  also  shut 
up  ?  You  are  a  long  distance  before  me  in 
point  of  age,  but  not  in  feebleness.  I  endeav- 
or to  live  in  the  expectation,  that  it  will  soon 
terminate  in  glory.  '  Thanks  be  unto  God 
who  giveth  us  the  victory,  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.'  " 

A  troop  of  old  men,  appointed  by  the  city 
authorities  to  sweep  the  street  in  which  he 
lived,  frequently  attracted  his  attention  as  he 
came  down  to  breakfast ;  and  fancying  them 
to  be  cold  and  feeble,  he  would  have  all  the 
coffee  poured  into  bowls,  and  preparing  it  to 
his  own  taste,  would  carry  it  out  to  them  with 
a  few  cheering  words.  The  worthy  "  pension- 
ers," especially  on  the  colder  mornings,  extend- 


SUNSET. 


319 


ed  their  line  so  as  to  reach  the  pastor's  house 
at  the  breakfast  hour  ;  not,  it  may  be  pre- 
sumed, merely  for  the  seasonable  fare,  but 
from  a  real  interest  in  their  benefactor ;  for 
after  he  was  no  longer  able  to  make  his  ap 
pearance,  the  advanced  posts  inquired  respect- 
fully after  his  health,  and  the  word  passed 
with  great  interest  from  one  to  another  through 
the  whole  body. 

At  the  end  of  May,  rooms  were  taken  by 
the  family  in  a  farm-house  a  few  miles  from 
Chester,  where  the  pure  air  and  the  rural 
scenery  greatly  delighted  him.  "  The  church 
in  the  village,"  says  his  daughter,  "  had  no 
regular  minister,  and  various  clergymen 
preached — none  too  well.  There  was  a  dis- 
cussion among  us  whether  it  was  incumbent 
upon  him  to  go  to  the  service.  '  Yes,'  he  said 
at  last,  '  I'll  go  ;  it  will  be  long  and  fatiguing 
for  me,  no  doubt,  and  I  may  not  hear  the  gos- 
pel after  all ;  but  the  only  testimony  I  can 
give  for  Christ  in  this  dark  village,  is  to  keep 
His  day  and  attend  His  house  ;  therefore  I'll 
go.'  In  July  the  weather  turned  suddenly 
cold  and  wet,  and  we  returned  to  town,  which, 


320 


SUNSET. 


after  seven  weeks'  absence,  lie  was  very  glad 
to  do.  '  There's  no  place  like  home,'  was 
frequently  his  pleased  remark,  as  he  went 
from  room  to  room,  and  looked  at  the  familiar 
furniture.  On  Sabbath,  when  able  to  attend 
tlie  services,  he  would  be  waiting  with  coat 
and  hat  on  for  the  opening  of  the  chapel-doors. 
Having  stepped  across  and  entered,  he  would 
walk  up  and  down  the  aisles,  in  front  of  the 
communion-rails  ;  now  stopping  as  if  in  med- 
itation ;  now  holding  open  the  seat-door  for 
some  members  of  the  congregation,  and  asking, 
as  they  entered,  about  their  bodily  or  spiritual 
health  ;  and  now  going  up  into  the  pulpit,  from 
which  he  was  never  to  preach  again,  and  look- 
ing around  on  the  gradually  filling  pews." 

Before  this  time  the  church  had  accepted  his 
resignation  of  the  pastoral  office,  and,  by  the 
liberality  of  his  numerous  friends,  a  sum  was 
raised  sufficient  to  secure  to  him  and  to  his 
family  a  proper  maintenance  for  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  The  provision  thus  affection- 
ately made  greatly  comforted  him  ;  and  though 
he  knew  he  could  enjoy  his  portion  of  it  but 
for  a  little  while  (only,  as  it  proved,  for  one 


SUNSET. 


321 


half-year,)  it  gladdened  his  heart  to  know  that 
the  capital  would  fall  into  the  funds  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  which  he  had  loved  so 
long,  for  the  relief  of  widows  and  orphans  be- 
reaved in  its  service. 

"The  progress  of  decline,"  continues  the  ac- 
count, "became  more  and  more  marked.  The 
walks  grew  shorter  and  fewer.  Days  of  pros- 
tration of  body  and  mind  were  more  frequent, 
with  later  rising  and  earlier  retiring,  but  not 
to  rest.  In  September  he  performed  his  last 
pastoral  act,  in  the  baptism^  of  the  child  of  one 
of  the  families  of  his  church,  but  the  hesitating 
speech,  the  repetition  of  sentences,  and  the  evi- 
dent forgetfulness,  proved  that  his  days  of  ser- 
vices were  over. 

"In  November  another  small  blood-vessel 
gave  way,  and  we  were  alarmed  by  a  fresh 
flow  of  blood  from  the  nose.  *  Only  another 
tent-pin  loosened,'  he  said ;  '  the  old  tabernacle 
is  coming  down.'  The  rest  of  that  month  and 
all  December  were  one  scene  of  suffering. 
Often  he  would  go  quietly  away  into  the  study 
when  in  great  pain,  lest  we  should  be  distress- 
ed ;  and  sometimes  we  used  to  try  to  look  as 

*  See  note  on  page  74. 

21 


322 


SUNSET. 


if  we  did  not  notice  it,  that  he  might  have  the 
gratification  of  thinking  he  had  spared  us  sor- 
row. The  last  month  of  his  life  he  spent 
entirely  in  the  house,  even  his  little  walks  at 
noon,  on  the  pavement  before  the  door,  being 
now  too  great  an  exertion.  'I  cannot  sing,' 
he  frequently  said  ;  '  sing  for  me.' 

"  '  What  would  you  like,  papa  V 

"  '  Guide  me.'  And  so  I  would  go  to  the 
piano  and  sing,  to  '  Rousseau's  Dream.'  his  fa- 
vourite hymn, 

'  Guide  me,  0  Thou  great  Jehovah.' 

He  would  always  try  to  join  in  the  last 
verse, 

*  When  I  tread  the  verge  of  Jordan.' 

And  when  he  could  do  that  no  more,  he  never 
missed  the  last  two  lines — 

'  Songs  of  praises 
I  will  ever  give  to  Thee !' 

"  *  It  is  weary  work  travelling  down  the 
valley,'  he  remarked,  on  one  of  his  last  days. 
*  Yes  ;  but  Jesus  is  with  you.'  '  I  believe  He 
is,'  he  answered,  thoughtfully  ;  and  then,  in 
subdued  tone, '  I  will  fear  no  evil.'    From  his 


SUNSET. 


323 


chamber  -  he  could  hear  the  singing  in  the 
chapel,  and  followed  the  service  closely.  '  Now 
they  are  singing — now  they  are  at  prayer  ; 
there,  that  is  the  second  hymn — now  the  ser^ 
mon  is  beginning ;  Lord,  bless  my  dear  peo- 
ple !'  "  So  wakeful  was  his  ear  known  to  be 
to  the  sound  of  music,  that  the  congregation 
omitted  singing  in  the  service  which  preceded 
his  death  ;  a  circumstance  which  at  once 
evinced  their  kindness,  and  gave  a  touching 
solemnity  to  their  worship. 

In  the  settlement  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Chap- 
I  man,  A.M.,  his  successor,  he  took  the  most 
i=j  lively  and  affectionate  interest.  On  the  Sab- 
f  bath  before  his  death  he  expressed  a  wish  to 
;  see  him  ;  and  after  speaking  to  him  for  a  few 
['  moments,  and  commending  his  church  and 
I  family  to  his  care  and  kindness,  he  grasped 
i|  his  hand  earnestly,  and  said,  "Be  faithful,  be 
jj  faithful ;  I  hope  the  chapel  will  be  as  full  as 
it  can  hold  ;  and  God  bless  you." 

At  the  commencement  of  his  illness,  he  was 
tried  by  great  depression  of  spirits,  chiefly 

*  The  house  was  No.  28  Queen  Street,  opposite  the 
chapel. 


324 


SUNSET. 


arising  from  physical  causes  ;  but  now  that 
was  over,  and  peace,  and  love,  and  joy  were 
with  him  to  the  end.  "  My  dear,"  he  exclaim- 
ed to  Mrs.  Knill,  on  the  day  before  his  death, 
"  I  believe  my  Saviour  will  say  to  me,  '  W ell 
done.'"  Even  in  the  wanderings  of  delirium, 
this  joy  of  his  soul  shone  forth.  "  They  sent 
me  to  preach  unto  the  heathen  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ ;  and  I  did  it ! — I  did  it !" 
At  length  all  power  of  speech  left  him,  and  he 
lay  apparently  unconscious  all  New-year's-day. 
He  had  heard  and  noticed  the  firing  of  the 
guns,  and  the  bells  which  rung  the  old  year 
out  and  the  new  year  in  ;  and  then  gradually 
became  quiet  again,  in  the  early  morning, 
looking  his  thanks  for  any  attention  shown 
him,  and  whispering,  "  Kiss  me — ^kiss  me,"  to 
the  loved  ones  who  were  beside  his  bed. 
Within  a  few  hours  before  his  death,  observ- 
ing that  his  head  was  in  an  uncomfortable 
position,  and  that  he  was  striving  ineffectually 
to  move  it,  his  daughter  sought  to  relieve  him, 
saying  as  she  did  so  to  her  mother,  "  Is  not 
that  better?"  The  dying  father  evidently 
heard  her,  and  mistook  the  words  for  an  in- 


SUNSET. 


325 


quiry  if  he  were  not  better,  and  immediately 
said,  though  with  great  difficulty,  "  How  are 
you,  Mary  ?*'  love  seeking,  in  death,  to  evade 
an  answer  that  would  give  pain  to  his  child. 
These  were  his  last  words.  A  little  after,  as 
the  night  was  departing,  he  seemed  to  look 
round,  as  though  in  search  of  some  one  ;  and 
seeing  this,  his  wife  drew  closer  to  him  and 
took  his  hand ;  and  his  daughter  laid  her 
hand  upon  his  burning  brow.  Still  he  appear- 
ed to  gaze  inquiringly,  as  if  unconscious  of 
their  presence,  until  the  latter  whispered,  *'  We 
are  both  here,  dearest  father,  and  Jesus  is  here, 
which  is  far  better."  Instantly  a  faint  smile 
answered  her  words — a  look  of  heavenly  glad- 
ness, and  peace,  and  rest — and  then  his  eyes 
gently  closed  in  the  sweet  '*  sleep  which  He 
giveth  to  His  beloved."  At  six  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  the  2d  January,  1857,  he  was 
"  absent  from  the  body  and  present  with  the 
Lord." 

On  the  8th,  the  remains  were  borne  through 
the  solemn  streets — the  shops  having  been 
voluntarily  closed  all  along  the  route — follow- 
ed by  a  deeply  affected  multitude,  and  by 
28 


826 


SUNSET. 


ministers  of  every  branch  of  the  Church  of 
Christ ;  the  good  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  who 
joined  the  throng  at  the  grave,  interpreting 
the  general  feeling  by  the  remark,  that  there 
was  "  comfort  in  taking  the  last  look  of  a  good 
man.''  The  treasure  was  deposited  in  the 
beautiful  cemetery  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Dee  ; 
where  an  appropriate  monument,  in  addition 
to  a  mural  tablet  in  the  chapel,  has  since  been 
erected  by  his  attached  friends. 

Even  if  the  Editor  had  not  regarded  his 
office  as  strictly  historical,  and  endeavoured  so 
to  dispose  the  materials  at  his  command  as  to 
enable  the  reader  to  form  his  own  judgment  of 
the  individual  to  whom  they  relate,  any  at- 
tempt to  sum  up  his  excellencies  and  imperfec- 
tions would  have  been  rendered  unnecessary 
by  the  contribution  from  another  pen,  with 
which,  happily  the  volume  closes.  The  curios- 
ity, however,  which  naturally  arises  regarding 
the  external  appearance  of  those  in  whom  we 
are  interested,  may  demand  a  few  additional 
words. 

The  prefixed  portrait,  which  is  taken  from  a 


SUNSET- 


327 


painting  executed  by  an  artist  in  the  congre- 
gation at  Chester,  very  fairly  represents  Mr. 
Knill  in  his  latter  years.  His  height  was 
about  six  feet,  and  his  form  well  proportioned. 
The  complexion  was  fair,  and  the  forehead 
rather  high  than  broad  :  what  are  understood 
as  the  moral  organs  finely  arching  the  head, 
upon  which  rather  a  scanty  supply  of  soft 
auburn  hair  was  gathered.  The  mouth  was 
small,  and  the  lips  so  regularly  formed  as  to 
convey  the  idea  of  juvenile  simplicity.  The 
eyes  were  blue  and  full-orbed,  having  a 
thoughtful  more  than  a  sprightly  expression  : 
the  lids  being  often  allowed  to  drop  as  a  cur- 
tain over  them,  not  only  as  he  sat  in  the  pulpit 
and  on  the  platform,  but  in  the  intervals  of 
conversation,  as  if  he  sought  retirement.  His 
voice  was  very  powerful  and  melodious,  and 
went  easily  to  the  furthest  limits  of  an  assem- 
bly. It  was  used  without  apparent  art,  and 
seemed  to  follow  the  mental  impulse.  From 
the  loudest  pitch  he  descended,  without  harsh 
abruptness,  to  the  quiet,  confidential  tone  of 
conversation,  in  which,  generally,  he  intro- 
duced his  anecdotes.    It  was  this  melody  and 


328 


SUNSET. 


yarietj  of  intonation,  united  with  his  open  and 
manly  bearing,  almost  as  much  as  the  con- 
tagion of  his  emotions,  which  led  to  results 
which  one  of  the  best  judges  of  public  speaking 
has  acknowledged.    "  I  never  saw  a  man/' 
says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles,  in  the  discourse 
preached  in  Queen  Street  Chapel  on  the  Sun- 
day after  the  funeral,  "  who  had  greater  mas- 
tery over  the  assemblies  of  his  fellow-men  than 
he  ;  and  this  was  the  secret, — it  was  no  studi- 
ed eloquence,  it  was  no  elaborate  argument,  it 
was  no  oratorical  flash  that  did  it, — it  was  the 
depth  of  earnestness,  that  figured  in  the  eye 
and  found  an  utterance  and  expression  in  the 
voice.    That  was  it  which  aroused  and  riveted 
his  hearers,  so  that  they  hung  upon  his  lips 
and  were  carried  onward  by  him,  almost  un- 
consciously, as  with  a  current  they  made  no 
offer  to  resist.    How  often  have  I  seen  him 
rise  in  the  midst  of  a  meeting  that  had  be- 
come all  but  frozen  by  previous  speeches, 
when,  with  one  or  two  sentences,  the  whole 
had  dissolved  in  a  gush  of  intense  feeling  and 
the  joyous   expression  of   satisfaction  and 
delight ! 


SUNSET. 


329 


..."  Dearly  beloved  departed  friend  !  very 
pleasant  hast  thou  been  to  me  :  I  cherish  thy 
memory  with  admiration  and  love  ! 

'  Thy  chequer'd  path  in  hfe  is  trod, 
Earth  changed  for  glory  and  for  God.'  " 


28* 


i 


CHAPTER  XII. 
BY  THE  EEY.  J.  A.  JAMES. 


1  wish  to  say  to  you,  Knill — labour  for  Jesus  Christ 
as  you  have  breath  in  your  body." 

Yexxen'g  the  Philanthropist. 


l331) 


# 

i' 


RE  TIE  W. 

In  some  of  the  paintings  of  the  old  masters 
there  is  the  work  of  more  hands  than  one. 
The  more  important  and  prominent  subjects  of 
the  picture  were  elaborated  b}^  the  artist  who 
designed  the  piece,  while  the  subordinate  parts 
were  left  for  others  to  finish.  Something  like 
this  occurs  in  the  memoir  of  Richard  Knill. 
My  friend,  Mr.  Birr  ell,  has  given  us  the  por- 
trait, and  has  requested  from  me,  as  one  who 
knew  the  original,  to  supply  some  of  the  fill- 
ings-in  of  the  picture  ;  and  I  could  not  feel  at 
liberty,  in  the  present  instance,  to  decline  this 
labour  of  love.  The  subject  of  the  memoir 
was  so  well  known  to  me,  and,  on  account  of 
his  great  devotedness  and  usefulness,  held  by 
me  in  such  affection,  esteem,  and  even  rever- 
ence, that  I  feel  honoured  in  paying  this  tribute 
of  respect  to  his  memory,  and  in  recommend- 
ing his  example  to  notice  and  imitation. 

(338) 


REVIEW. 


The  biographer  has  performed  liis  office  with 
ludgment  and  fidelit}^,  and  has  given  us  a  con- 
dcDsed  account  of  one  of  the  most  useful  min- 
isters of  his  age.  He  has  left  him  to  speak  for 
himself  and  tell  his  own  story  ;  and  though 
we  cannot  but  regret  that  he  did  not  leave  be- 
hind more  details  of  the  varied  scenes  through 
which,  in  his  changeful  and  eventful  life,  he 
passed,  yet  more  than  enough  will  be  found  for 
admiration  and  direction.  In  this  age  of 
diluted  biography,  conciseness  is  so  rare 
that  we  are  content  to  take  a  work  which  is 
the  essence  of  a  man's  life  instead  of  a  weak 
solution.  It  will  be  found,  even  by  those  who 
knew  some  of  the  facts  before,  a  work  of  deep 
and  instructive  interest ;  and  it  is  so  correct  a 
likeness,  that,  had  it  been  possible  to  conceal 
the  name  of  its  subject,  it  would,  like  one  of 
those  truthful  portraits  which  are  without  in- 
scriptions, have  been  recognized  by  all  who 
were  familiar  with  the  original. 

Mr.  Knill  was  no  ordinary  man.  His  use- 
fulness in  the  way  of  conversion  of  souls  to 
God  was  perhaps  greater,  all  things  taken  into 
account,  than  that  of  any  other  man  of  his  day 


REVIEW. 


335 


in  this  kingdom.  Wherever  he  laboured, 
whether  in  the  villages  of  Devon,  in  India,  in 
Kussia,  or  in  the  various  parts  of  England,  he 
was  instrumental  in  awakening  the  impenitent 
and  careless  to  a  deep  concern  for  their  eternal 
welfare.  He  entered  every  place  with  thaf 
object  in  view,  and  in  very  few  instances  left 
without  having  in  some  measure  accomplished 
it.  His  usefulness  lay  not  exclusively  among 
the  poor  :  many  persons  of  education,  intelli- 
gence, and  station  were  brought,  through  him, 
under  the  influence  of  evangelical  religion. 
How  seldom  has  the  individual  been  found, 
since  Whitfield's  and  Wesley's  time,  of  whom 
it  could  be  said  that  there  was  reason  to  be- 
lieve he  had  been  the  instrument  of  converting 
a  hundred  persons  ivho,  in  one  ivay  or  another, 
became  preachers  of  the  gospel  !  This,  added 
to  the  multitude  of  other  persons  who  by  his 
instrumentality  were  brought  to  the  Saviour 
of  the  world,  is  an  amount  of  usefulness  which 
rarely  falls  to  the  lot  of  any  minister  of 
Christ.  It  proves  that  he,  above  most,  was 
"  wise  to  win  souls,"  and  that  "  God  was  with 
him." 


336 


REVIEW. 


Surely  it  should  become  with  all,  and  espe- 
cially with  the  mioisters  of  religion,  an  inquiry 
by  what  means  this  amount  of  usefulness  was 
accomplished.    Such  a  man's  life  should  be  a 
study  ;  yet  it  is  to  be  feared  that,  in  this  age 
of  "  intellectualism,"  many  will  deem  it  be- 
neath their  notice.    True,  he  had  no  splendid 
talents,  no  brilliant  genius,  no  lofty  imagina- 
tion ;   he  possessed  neither   scholarship  nor 
philosophy  ;  he  was  neither  an  acute  meta- 
physician, nor  an  accurate  logician,  no,  nor 
even  a  profound  theologian.    But  he  was  some- 
thing greater,  higher  and  holier  than  all  this, — 
he  was  a  devoted  servant  of  Christ,  a  hero  of 
the  cross,  an  eminently  successful  preacher  of 
the  gospel.    He  made  no  pretence  to  great- 
ness ;  yet,  if  saving  souls  be  a  great  work,  he 
was  great.    He  made  no  attempt  at  display ; 
he  coveted  not,  he  attempted  not  to  be  philo- 
sophical or  intellectual,  yet  he  was  master  and 
preacher  of  the  profoundest  of  all  philosophies, 
and  the  deepest  of  all  intellectualisms — the 
gospel  of  salvation.    He  was  no  orator,  in  the 
conventional  meaning  of  that  term,  yet  had  he 
the  power  of  rousing,  fixing,  and  holding  the 


REVIEW. 


33T 


attention  of  an  audience,  far  above  wliat,most 
elaborate  and  intellectual  preachers  possess. 
He  was  no  rhetorician,  nor,  if  eloquence  con- 
sists of  great  and  original  conceptions  clothed 
with  glowing  imagery  and  splendid  diction, 
could  he  pretend  to  this  :  his  eloquence  was 
that  of  the  heart,  gushing  out  in  streams  of  im- 
passioned feeling,  which  carried  away  his  hear- 
ers on  the  tide  of  his  own  emotion — the  elo- 
quence of  a  man  on  fire  with  zeal  for  God,  and 
melted  into  compassion  for  souls  hovering  on 
the  verge  of  the  bottomless  pit — the  eloquence 
of  faith  and  love.  Like  Paul,  he  was  a  man 
of  tears,  and  often  drew  forth  the  tears  of 
others  by  the  magic  power  of  his  own  full  eyes 
and  faltering  voice ;  or,  like  Paul's  Master 
weeping  over  Jerusalem,  Knill  would  often 
weep  over  the  audience  before  him.  The  min- 
ister who  would  turn  from  the  delineation  of 
such  a  man  because  he  had  no  claim  to  be  a 
genius,  or  a  subtle  reasoner,  or  an  original 
thinker,  or  a  poetic  sentimentalist,  or  a  dreamy 
mystic,  and  was  nothing  but  an  earnest  preacher 
of  the  gospel,  has  reason  to  doubt  whether  he 
knows  that  the  salvation  of  souls  is  the  great 
29  22 


338 


RE7IEW. 


object  of  the  Christian  ministry,  and  is  above 
all  scholarship  and  all  philosophy.  It  is  much 
to  be  desired,  then,  that  this  work  should  be 
read  by  our  whole  ministry,  to  see  what  may 
be  done  even  by  a  man  of  moderate  abilities, 
whose  heart  is  set  in  him  to  be  useful,  and  who 
is  inspired  and  moved  by  the  purpose  of  sav- 
ing souls. 

AVe  now  take  up  the  inquiry  after  the  means 
by  which  he  attained  to  so  great  a  measure  of 
usefulness.  It  is  evident  that  it  was,  in  a  great 
degree,  to  be  attributed  to  his  intense  desire 
after  it.  He  set  out  in  life  with  the  adoption 
of  that  mighty,  impulsive,  and  glorious  word, 
USEFULNESS ;  and  usefulness,  with  him,  meant 
converting  sinners.  He  yearned  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls.  It  was,  with  him,  not  merely  a 
principle,  or  a  privilege,  but  a  passion.  For 
this  he  longed  and  prayed  in  the  closet,  wrote 
in  the  study,  laboured  in  the  pulpit,  conversed 
in  the  parlour,  and  admonished,  counselled, 
and  warned  wherever  he  went.  It  was  his 
conviction,  that  his  talent  and  temperament 
were  more  especially  adaptel  for  the  work  of 
conversion,  and  thence  his  sermons  contained 


REVIEW. 


339 


invariably  a  large  portion  of  the  truths  which 
conduct  to  it.  They  were  to  a  considerable 
extent  made  up  of  first  principles,  and  were 
not  so  much  calculated  for  leading  on  a  con- 
gregation to  perfection.  As  regards  the  pas- 
toral style  of  preaching,  it  is  by  no  means 
necessary  or  proper  that  this  should  be  its 
character  to  the  exclusion  of  more  instructive 
and  profound  teaching.  Few  of  our  congre- 
gations are  mere  nurseries  for  babes  who  are 
to  be'  fed  with  milk  ;  in  most  of  them  there 
are  Christians  of  full  age,  young  men  and 
fathers,  who  require  strong  meat ;  and,  there- 
fore, Mr.  Knill,  though  valued  as  a  preacher, 
cannot  be  held  up  for  indiscriminating  imita- 
tion. What  we  desiderate  is  more  of  his  sim- 
ple, direct,  earnest,  heart-affecting  method  of 
address,  grafted,  as  much  as  possible,  upon  a 
more  enlarged  and  enlightened  course  of  pul- 
pit ministration. 

It  is,  I  think,  an  error  into  which  many  of 
our  modern  ministers,  whose  education  has 
been  carried  to  a  high  pitch,  have  fallen,  that 
every  thing  is  to  be  done  by  the  head  rather 
than  the  heart.    We  know  very  well  that  the 


340 


REVIEW. 


true  method  is  to  reach  the  heart  through  the 
head,  and  that  men  must  be  made  to  feel  by 
being-  shown  why  they  should  feel,  and  what  is 
to  make  them  feel.  But  in  very  many  cases, 
especially  in  the  least  educated,  the  head  is  to 
be  reached  by  appeals  to  the  heart.  We  often 
hear  the  remark,  "  Yes,  it  was  a  clever  sermon, 
but  it  wanted  heart.  It  sparkled  like  the  stars, 
or  shone  like  the  moon  on  a  wintry  night,  but 
it  warmed  no  one."  I  have  been  sometimes 
struck,  as  every  one  else  must  have  been,  with 
the  varying  effect  produced  by  different  speak- 
ers at  a  public  meeting  ;  and  how  much  more 
power  over  the  audience,  and  how  much  more 
the  object  of  the  meeting  has  been  accom- 
plished, by  a  few  gushes  of  simple  eloquence 
from  the  heart  of  some  earnest  and  ardent  ad- 
vocate, than  by  the  elaborate  but  passionless 
pleader.  The  latter  was  coldly  admired,  and 
admitted  to  be  an  eloquent  speaker ;  but  the 
former  melted  and  moved  his  audience  by  the 
depth  and  intensity  of  his  own  feeling.  And 
as  with  speaking  so  it  is  with  preaching.  Mr. 
Knill  often  did  with  a  few  touches  of  genuine 
emotion  what  others  could  not  do  witli  great 
and  lengthened  elaboration. 


REVIEW. 


841 


It  must  be  conceded,  that  the  unction  of  a 
warm-hearted  preacher  depends,  in  considera- 
ble measure,  on  natural  temperament ;  a  man 
must  have  an  emotional  organization  to  be  an 
emotional  preacher  ;  and  it  is,  after  all,  a 
miserable  exhibition  when  an  excess  of  emotion 
is  brought  forward  as  a  substitute  for  a 
deficiency  of  intelligence,  and  tears  are  made 
to  supply  the  place  of  thoughts.  I  am  not  quite 
sure  that  our  friend  did  not  occasionally  border 
on  this  deficiency.  His  tears,  the  fountain  of 
which  was  always  full  and  always  open,  like 
those  of  Paul,  were  a  part  of  his  power,  and 
often  gave  irresistible  effect  to  what  he  said  ; 
but  now  and  then  they  enervated  his  address. 

The  usefulness  of  Mr.  Knill,  however,  was 
not  exclusively  the  result  of  his  preaching. 
The  passion  for  the  conversion  of  souls  which 
he  manifested  in  the  pulpit,  and  which  led  him 
to  seek  it  with  such  earnestness  there,  he 
brought  with  him  out  of  the  sanctuary,  and 
carried  into  more  private  spheres,  as  the  great 
object  of  life  and  principle  of  action.  Like 
the  enthusiastic  botanist,  geologist,  or  ento- 
mologist, he  was  ever  in  pursuit  of  his  object, 
29^ 


342 


REVIEW. 


and  looking  out  for  fresh  means  of  gaining  it. 
It  was  his  felicity  to  have  rarely  to  say,  "  I 
have  lost  an  opportunity How  few,  how 
very  few  of  us  have  attained  to  this  watchful- 
ness for  occasions  of  usefulness!  Our  friend, 
no  doubt,  had  a  peculiar  tact  for  this  way  of 
doing  good — a  talent  which  exists  in  various 
degrees  in  different  persons,  but  which  ought 
to  be,  and  may  be,  cultivated  by  all.  Whether 
it  was  the  servant  girl  that  waited  upon  him 
in  the  house  of  a  friend,  or  the  host  and 
hostess  themselves,  or  the  fellow-traveller  in 
the  railway  carriage,  or  the  porter  at  an  inn, 
or  a  person  he  casually  met  on  the  road,  or  a 
sailor  on  the  sea-beach,  he  had  a  tract  or  a 
word — generally  an  ajjt  word — for  each.  In 
every  one,  he  saw  an  immortal  being  on  his 
passage  to  eternity,  and  he  longed  to  be  the 
instrument  of  his  conversion.  Oh,  what  mul- 
titudes would  be  converted  to  God,  and  how 
changed  would  be  the  face  of  society,  if  all 
ministers  and  all  Christians  were  thus  set  upon 
the  work  of  saving  souls  !  And  why  should 
they  not  be  ?  True,  they  may  not  have  Mr. 
Knill's  tact  for  the  work  ;  but  they  may  do 


REVIEW. 


343 


much  if  they  have  the  heart  to  do  it.  Some- 
thing, no  doubt,  may  in  his  case  be  set  down 
to  natural  temperament.  He  was  impulsive, 
eager,  active,  and  possessed  of  great  sensibility. 
He  had  an  ardent,  and,  if  we  may  so  say,  an 
outgoing  soul.  Then  there  was  dauntless  moral 
courage  and  an  unflinching  boldness  of  ad- 
dress :  witness  his  distribution  of  religious 
tracts,  while  yet  a  youth,  to  the  North  Devon 
Militia  ;  his  venturing  into  the  company  of 
ungodly  and  sneering  officers  in  India,  when 
lie  knew  their  object  in  inviting  him  ;  and  his 
occupancy  of  the  theatre,  and  his  preaching  in 
a  series  of  towns  in  his  old  age.  He  knew  not 
fear  in  the  service  of  his  Master.  This  is  a 
noble  quality  of  soul,  and  an  important  aid  to 
usefulness.  We  should  all  do  more  good  if  we 
had  more  of  this  spiritual  heroism.  Before 
.  such  a  man  tlie  proudest  spirits  stand  abash- 
ed and  feel  how  awful  goodness  is."  Have 
we  not  all  too  often  quailed  before  those  whom 
we  have  felt  afraid  of  assailing  even  with  the 
weapons  of  argument,  persuasion  and  love, 
and  come  away  from  -the  company  of  some 
whom  we  should  have  tried  to  save,  with  the 


344 


REVIEW. 


shame  and  self-reproach  of  a  spiritual  coward  ? 
I  am  fully  aware  that  it  requires  great  deli- 
cacy and  caution  how  we  thus  aim  to  do  good 
by  introducing  religion  to  those  whom  we 
casually  meet,  lest  we  disgust  and  affront  by 
our  apparent  rudeness,  and  rouse  the  preju- 
dices of  those  whom  we  wish  to  conciliate.  I 
am  not  quite  sure  that  Mr.  Knill  was  always 
judicious.  There  were  instances,  I  believe, 
though  rare,  in  which  he  was  a  little  too 
abrupt  in  his  address,  and  perhaps  sometimes 
"  cast  his  pearls  before  swine.*'  Yet  he  never 
merged  the  politeness  of  the  gentleman  in  the 
zeal  of  the  Christian  ;  and  there  was  an 
honesty,  a  frankness,  a  kindliness  of  manner 
in  him — such  an  obvious  benevolence  of  inten- 
tion, such  affection  beaming  in  his  looks,  such 
a  tone  of  tenderness  in  his  words,  such 
an  unmistakable  design  and  desire  to  benefit 
the  persons  he  addressed — that  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  any  one  to  whom  he  spoke  to  be 
offended  with  him.  'We  must  beware  of  a 
species  of  knight-errantry  in  religion,  and  of 
that  spiritual  garrulousness  in  which  some  very 
talkative  professors  indulge,  who  measure  their 


REVIEW. 


345 


zeal  by  their  volubility,  and  who  are  regarded 
by  all  who  know  them  as  religious  bores  or 
Pharisaic  zealots.  But  oh,  what  an  enviable 
talent  is  tact  in  doing  good  by  private  conver- 
sation with  those  into  whose  society  we  are 
casually  thrown !  By  many,  I  know,  the  in- 
troduction of  religion  in  the  way  of  personal 
address,  especially  if  the  person  he  treated  as 
unconverted,  is  considered  as  a  breach  of  good 
manners  and  a  mark  of  vulgarity  ;  and  too 
many  pious  people,  and  ministers  also,  yield  to 
this  conventionalism,  and  pass  through  life 
without  ever  attempting  thus  to  do  good. 
But  can  this  be  right  ?  Is  it  not  a  cowardly, 
guilty  silence  ?  If  we  have  found  the  secret  of 
happiness  for  both  worlds,  should  we  not  in  all 
proper  ways  seek  to  make  it  known  to  others  ? 

There  was  another  way  in  which  Mr.  Knill 
extended  his  usefulness,  and  that  was  by  writ- 
ing and  publishing  short,  striking  religious 
tracts,  as  well  as  reprinting  some  that  had 
been  written  by  others.  His  own  contained 
no  great  depth  of  thought,  and  nothing  that 
displayed  genius  ;  but,  generally  founded  on 
some  fact,  they  were  eminently  calculated  to 


346 


REVIEW. 


engage  the  attention  and  to  interest  the  feelings 
of  the  reader.  They  obtained,  he  tells  us,  a 
circulation  of  some  millions^  were  translated 
into  several  languages,  and  were  greatly 
honoured  for  the  conversion  of  souls.  It  was 
his  own  pithy  saying,  One  tract  may  save  a 
soul and  in  thousands  of  instances  his,  by 
God's  grace,  have  done  this.  The  man  who 
writes  one  good,  popular,  useful  religious  tract, 
has  done  a  work  worth  living  for,  though  lie 
did  nothing  else.  There  is  a  time  coming 
wlien  the  author  of  The  Swearer's  Prayer" 
will  have  more  joy  in  his  simple  leaflet  than 
Milton  in  the  production  of  "  Paradise  Lost." 
Why  then  do  not  Christian  writers  more  fre- 
quently try  to  send  over  their  own  land,  and 
over  more  lands  than  one,  those  winged  n>es- 
sengers  of  mercy  by  which,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  they  shall  convert  souls  wliile  they 
live,  and  speak  for  the  same  purpose  when  they 
are  dead?  It  must  be  confessed,  however, 
that  peculiar  tact  is  necessary  for  such  a  work. 
The  man  who  could  write  a  large  and  learned 
volume  would  in  some  cases,  find  it  difficult  to 
write  a  good  popular  tract  ;  just  as  he  who 


REVIEW. 


347 


could  forge  an  anchor  might  not  be  able  to 
make  a  jewel  or  a  pin  !  But  are  there  not 
many  who  could  do  so  if  they  tried  ? 

It  is  not  always  that  such  ardour  in  the  way 
of  doing  good  as  Mr.  Knill  evinced  is  asso- 
ciated with  and  guided  by  such  discretion  as 
he  generally  manifested  throughout  the  whole 
of  his  career.  Impulsive  and  sanguine  tem- 
peraments are  always  liable  to  erratic  move- 
ments ;  and  many  a  fervent  spirit  is  set  on  fire 
and  consumes  itself  by  the  velocity  of  its  own 
unchecked  motion.  Zeal,  like  fire,  needs  to 
be  watched  and  kept  in  its  own  place,  or,  in- 
stead of  warming  the  house,  it  may  burn  it 
down.  No  one  can  read  the  foregoing  pages 
without  being  convinced  that  Mr.  Knill,  with 
all  his  impetuosity  in  his  useful  career,  was 
singularly  guided  by  wisdom.  Ever  active, 
amid  the  jealousy  of  the  Russian  Government 
and  the  vigilance  of  the  Greek  Church,  he 
never  fatally  committed  himself.  He  knew 
well,  what  is  not  often  the  case  with  ardent 
minds,  how  to  direct  and  when  to  Imiit  his 
zeal.  This,  as  well  as  his  watchfulness  for 
opportunities  of  usefulness,  and  his  eagerness 


348 


REVIEW. 


to  seize  iliem  as  they  presented  themselves, 
was  finely  manifested  in  his  exhumation  of  the 
Russian  Bibles  from  the  vaults  in  which  they 
were  buried,  and  fast  going  to  decay  ;  and 
also  his  extensive  sale  of  Bibles  to  the  Fin- 
landers.  He  thus  did  an  immense  amount  of 
good  without  alarming  the  fears  or  awakening 
the  suspicions  of  the  authorities.  How  im- 
portant is  it,  in  all  our  endeavours  to  be  use- 
ful, to  study  the  best  luay  of  being  so !  Zeal 
should  have  eyes  and  ears  as  well  as  hands 
and  feet ;  should  keep  both  open,  and  make 
good  use  of  their  testimony. 

What  kept  Mr.  Knill  thus  active  and  ardent 
in  his  career  of  usefulness  was  his  fervent 
piety.  If  he  had  a  tongue  of  fire,  it  was  be- 
cause the  flame  of  devotion  was  bright  and 
ever  burning  in  his  soul.  Few  men  in  modern 
times  entered  more  deeply  into  the  apostle's 
words,  "  The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us." 
By  this,  as  a  torrent,  which  he  was  as  little 
able  as  he  was  willing  to  resist,  he  was  borne 
energetically  and  successfully  along  in  his 
course.  He  lived  within  sight  of  the  cross, 
and  felt  the  "  powers  of  the  world  to  come." 


REVIEW.  349 

His  diary  exhibits  the  springs  of  his  action, 
the  source  of  his  energies,  and  the  secret  of 
his  success.  He  was  eminently  a  man  of  pray- 
er, and  did  everything  in  the  spirit  of  prayer. 
His  communion  with  God  was  close  and  con- 
stant. He  came  from  the  closet  strengthened 
for  his  work  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  city,  and 
went  back  to  his  closet,  not  only  for  repose 
and  refreshment,  but  to  be  strengthened  and 
prepared  for  further  labour.  This  made  him 
"  strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  His 
might."  And  why  are  any  of  God's  servants 
feeble  in  action,  but  because  they  are  weak  in 
devotion  ?  We  live  in  days  when  Christians 
are  far  less  in  the  closet  than  they  should  be. 
The  study  and  the  counting-house  encroach 
upon  the  closet.  We  are  preaching  men  and 
business-men,  but  not  so  much  as  we  should  be 
praying-men.  What  mighty  men  in  prayer 
were  our  great  ancestors,  the  Howes,  the 
Owens,  the  Baxters,  and  the  Henrys !  How 
they  must  have  wrestled  in  the  closet  to  send 
forth  such  words  as  they  did  from  the  study ! 
Where  is  their  mantle  ?  Doddrids^e  and  Watts 
found  it,  and  dropped  it  again  for  such  men  as 
30 


350 


REVIEW. 


Paj^son,  M'Che3''ne,  and  Knill.  They,  in  their 
turn,  let  it  fall.  Would  God  we  could  find 
it !  What  is  wanted  among  us  is  a  deeper- 
toned  piety,  a  more  devotional  spirit.  Oh,  for 
a  fresh  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit — a  revived 
ministry,  and  a  revived  Church — a  race  of 
preachers  and  of  people  whose  whole  char- 
acter and  conduct  shall  bear,  in  letters  which 
every  one  that  sees  must  read,  the  inscription 
on  the  mitre  of  the  High  Priest,  "  Holiness  to 
the  Lord  We  complain  of  a  want  of  use- 
fulness. Have  we  any  reason  to  wonder  that 
we  should  have  cause  to  complain  ?  Is  our 
piety  such  as  to  make  us  burning  as  well  as 
shining  lights  ?  Are  we  as  intense  in  devo- 
tion as  we  are  earnest  in  business  and  in 
study  ?  We  should  all  be  more  useful  if  we 
were  more  holy. 

It  will  perhaps  be  asked,  if  I  would  hold 
up  Mr.  Knill  as  a  standard  by  which  all  should 
be  tried,  and  a  model  which  all  should  imitate  ? 
In  some  things  I  would.  In  his  singular  de- 
votedness,  and  consecration  to  his  work ;  in 
his  deep  conviction  and  clear  perception,  that 
the  salvation  of  souls  is  the  great  end  of  the 


REVIEW. 


351 


ministerial  office  ;  in  his  intense  desire  and 
constant  endeavour,  in  all  ways,  to  reach  this 
end  ;  in  the  prevailing  evangelism  and  earnest- 
ness of  his  sermons  ;  in  his  eminent  piety  and 
devout  spirit ;  in  his  loving  disposition  and 
kindly  bearing  ;  in  his  simplicity,  fidelity,  and 
courage, — in  all  these  things  I  would  commend 
his  example  as  what  we  should  endeavour  to 
copy.  Still  it  would  be  unfair  and  unwise  to 
expect  that  all  should  in  everything  exactly 
resemble  him.  Most  men  have  idiosyncrasies, 
and  he  had  his,  which  do  not  belong  to  others, 
and  should  not  be  slavishly  copied  by  them. 
The  God  of  nature  had  much  to  do  in  the 
constitution  of  his  mind  and  tendencies,  as 
well  as  the  God  of  grace  with  the  sanctifica- 
tion  of  his  heart.  Very  few  could  do  exactly 
as  he  did.  And  is  not  the  wisdom  of  God 
manifested  in  that  variety  of  talent  and  gifts 
which  is  apparent  in  the  ministers  of  Christ, 
so  that  as  there  are  great  differences  of  mental 
habitudes  among  the  hearers  of  the  gospel,  there 
should  be  corresponding  differences  among  its 
preachers  ?  Let  not,  therefore,  the  readers  of 
this  memoir  make  comparisons  between  its 


352 


REVIEW. 


subject  and  their  own  pastors,  and  querulously 
and  unthoughtfully  say,  "  Ours  are  not  as  he." 
Perhaps  not,  and  yet  they  may  be  very  good 
ministers  still.  Nevertheless,  that  his  burn- 
ing ardour  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  his 
unwearied  endeavours  in  that  work,  might  and 
should  be  possessed  by  us  all,  is  very  true ; 
and  I  am  not  without  hope,  that  this  volume 
has  its  mission  to  stir  us  up  to  a  spirit  like  his 
own. 

In  the  retrospect  of  a  long  life,  now  draw- 
ing to  a  close,  during  which  I  have  watched, 
of  course,  the  career,  and  observed  the  mode 
of  action,  of  many  of  my  brethren,  I  have 
noticed  great  diversity  in  the  results  of  their 
ministry  ;  and  I  have  most  assuredly  seen,  that 
where  they  have  been  intensely  earnest  for  the 
salvation  of  souls,  and  have  sought  this  by  a 
style  of  preaching  adapted  to  accomplish  it, 
God  has  honoured  their  endeavours  by  giving 
them  success.  If,  without  impropriety,  I  may 
refer  here,  as  I  believe  I  have  done  elsewhere, 
to  the  service  which,  during  fifty-four  years,  I 
have  been  allowed  to  render  to  our  great  Mas- 
ter, I  may  declare  my  thankfulness  in  being 


REVIEW. 


353 


able,  in  some  small  degree,  to  rejoice  that  the 
conversion  of  sinners  has  been  my  aim.  I 
have  made,  next  to  the  Bible,  Baxter's  "  Re- 
formed Pastor  "  my  rule  as  regards  the  object 
of  my  ministry.  It  were  well  if  that  volume 
were  often  read  by  all  our  pastors, — a  study 
which  I  now  earnestly  recommend  to  them. 
I  sometimes  venture  to  hope  that  it  has  kin- 
dled in  me  a  spark — but  oh,  how  dim! — of 
that  spirit  which  actuated  Mr.  Knill.  In  re- 
gard to  all  that  constitutes  earnestness,  I  blush 
before  his  statue,  as  it  rises  before  me  in  this 
volume,  and  confess  my  shortcomings  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  Standing,  as  I  now  do,  in 
the  prospect  of  the  close  of  my  ministry,  of 
the  eternal  world,  and  of  my  summons  to  the 
presence  of  the  great  Lord  of  all,  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  as  the  object  of  the  ministry, 
appears  to  me,  more  than  ever  before,  in  all 
its  awful  sublimity.  Everything  else,  as  com- 
pared with  this,  seems  but  as  the  small  dust  of 
the  balance  ;  and  though,  perhaps,  not  alto- 
gether an  idler  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  it 
is  now  my  grief  and  ray  surprise  that  I  have 
not  been  more  devoted  and  more  laborious. 
30*  23 


354 


EEVIEW. 


Defects,  omissions,  and  errors,  come  out  before 
our  view  in  the  evening  of  life,  and  especially 
when  it  is  spent,  as  mine  now  must  be,  in  re- 
tirement, solitude,  and  suffering,  which  we  did 
not  perceive  during  the  burden  and  bustle  of 
the  day.  To  my  younger  brethren  I  say,  You 
are  engaged  in  the  greatest  work  in  the  uni- 
verse ;  for  in  preaching  for  the  salvation  of 
souls,  you  are  brought  into  fellowship  with 
God  in  His  eternal  purposes  of  mercy  to  the 
children  of  men  ;  with  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
in  His  redeeming  work  upon  the  cross  ;  with 
the  Holy  Spirit  in  His  mission  to  our  world  ; 
and  with  prophets,  apostles,  and  martyrs. 
Heaven,  through  eternity,  will  resound  with 
the  praises  of  your  diligence,  or  hell  with 
lamentations  and  execrations  upon  your  neg- 
lect. Happy  will  it  be  for  you,  and  happy  for 
your  flocks,  if  the  perusal  of  this  volume 
should  help  you  to  find  and  to  wear  the  man- 
tle of  Richard  Knill.  J.  A.  J. 

Septembeb,  30,  1859. 


POSTSCRIPT. 


While  the  proofs  of  these  concluding  pages, 
accompanied  by  the  Preface,  are  yet  retui'ning 
to  the  press,  the  public  telegrams  announce  to 
all  parts  of  England  that  their  venerated  wri- 
ter is  no  more.  The  intelligence  will  travel 
to  the  utmost  limits  of  our  language,  and  be 
told,  at  length,  in  all  the  tongues  in  which  his 
heart-stirring  thoughts  have  ever  been  read, — 
filling  thousands  with  such  sorrow  as  springs 
only  from  the  loss  of  a  father.  With  what 
solemnity  does  this  event  stamp  these  his  last 
utterances !  A  life  completely  filled  with  la- 
bours for  the  highest  welfare  of  mankind  could 
not  surely  have  been  more  fitly  closed.  It 
seems  as  if  his  Lord,  with  touching  kindness, 
had  given  him  this  latest  opportunity  of  bear- 
ing testimony  to  the  importance  and  blessed- 
ness of  His  service. 

A  bound  set  of  the  sheets  of  this  Memoir 

(355) 


356  POSTSCRIPT. 


vrere  sent  to  him  about  a  month  ago,  with 
little  hope  that  he  would  be  able  to  add  to 
them.  But,  after  glancing  over  the  volume, 
he  was  so  warmed  by  the  kindred  spirit  of 
Knill  that  he  resolved  to  throw  his  generous 
impressions  into  writing.  His  continual  suf- 
ferings greatly  increased  the  difficulty  of  com- 
position, and,  after  doing  his  uttermost,  he 
wrote  to  say  that  the  result  was  so  unsatisfac- 
tory to  himself  that  he  could  send  nothing. 
But  immediately  after  the  despatch  of  that 
decision  he  happily  changed  his  mind,  and  sent 
the  manuscript,  accompanied  by  an  expression 
of  the  hope  that  it  would  be  found  so  unsuit- 
able as  to  be  returned.  It  was,  however,  too 
much  prized  to  be  so  treated  ;  and,  with  a 
very  few  alterations,  it  reached  him  in  print 
on  the  day  prior  to  his  departure.  He  at  once 
proceeded  to  its  revision,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  detected  several  inaccuracies  in  the  print- 
ing, which  had  escaped  other  eyes,  and  inserted 
two  or  three  qualifying  words.  This  was  his 
last  work  on  earth.  He  felt  that  it  was  ;  for 
as  soon  as  it  was  finished,  he  wrote  to  the 
Editor,  with  unusual  distinctness  of  penman- 


POSTSCRIPT. 


357 


manship,  as  if  every  "^ord  had  been  deliber- 
ately weighed,  a  letter — it  is  presumed  his  last 
— of  which  the  following  passage  is  the  chief 
part : — 

Edgbaston,  30th  Sept.,  1859. 

"...  I  think  it  probable  that  with  these 
few  notes  on  dear  KnilFs  life  and  labours  I 
shall  lay  down  my  pen,  which  has  written 
much  :  would  God  it  had  written  better  !  But 
while  I  say  this,  I  am  not  without  hope,  yea,  I 
I  may  add,  conviction,  that  it  has,  in  some 
measure,  written  usefully.  In  some  humble 
degree  I  have  aimed  at  usefulness,  both  in  my 
preaching  and  writing,  and  God  has,  to  an 
amount  which  utterly  astonishes  and  almost 
overwhelms  me,  given  me  what  I  have  sought. 
It  seems  a  daring  and  almost  presumptuous 
expression,  but  with  a  proper  qualification  it 
is  a  true  one — that  usefulness  is  within  the 
reach  of  us  all.  The  man  who  intensely  de- 
sires to  be  useful,  and  takes  the  proper  means, 
will  be  useful.  God  will  not  withhold  His 
grace  from  such  desires  and  such  labours. 
Oh,  my  brother,  how  delightful  is  it,  notwith- 
standing the  humbling  and  sorrowful  conscious- 
24 


358 


POSTSCRIPT. 


ness  of  defects  and  sins,  to  look  back  upon  a 
life  spent  for  Christ!  I  thank  a  sovereign 
God  I  am  not  without  some  degree  of  this.'' 

In  an  hour  or  two  after  this  letter  was 
sealed,  the  summons  came  from  his  Divine 
Master,  and  when  next  morning  dawned  upon 
us  he  was  with  Him  in  glorv.  May  his  man- 
tle be  found  and  worn  by  thousands  1 


